Feeding a Resident

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Feeding a Resident

• Health Science Technology
• Nursing
• J. Hodge, RN

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Good Nutrition

• Important part of a residents Rx.
• Make mealtimes pleasant
• Time for social interactions
• Allows time to eat with others
• Eat alone? poor appetite
• LTC-Long term care facilities-encourage eating in
  dining room

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Resident confined to bed

• Bedridden?
• Sit down in CHAIR (Not the Bed!) to feed the
  resident
• TALK to the resident!
• Eat/Feed resident while food is hot as soon as
  it arrives to floor

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Make mealtimes pleasant

• Offer bedpan or urinal or assist to BR before
  meals
• Clear room of offensive odors
• Allow resident to wash hands
• Provide oral hygiene, if desired
• Position resident comfortably in upright position

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Make it pleasant

• Clear overbed and position it for tray
• Remove emesis basin or bed pan from view
• Place these objects in bedside table.
• If meals are delayed because of procedures/tests,
  explain this to resident!

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Responsibilities

• Check the tray carefully against residents name
  and room .
• Check diet type as ordered
• Never add any food or condiment to tray with
  checking with manager.

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Rehab

• Allow resident to feed self whenever possible.
• Assist by cutting meat, buttering bread, adding
  condiments on tray, opening beverages, etc.
• Use bib/towel to protect clothes.

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Blind Resident?

• Visually impaired? Instruct resident what food
  is on tray by comparing to a clock.
• Meat is at 12, beans _at_ 3, potatoes _at_ 6, etc.
• Make sure all food/utensils are placed
  conveniently.

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Before Feeding Resident!

• Check hot foods for temperature!
• How would we do that?
• Test by dropping sm. amt. on wrist.
• NEVER BLOW on food to COOL it!

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Points to Observe

• Alternate food by giving sips of liquids between
  solid foods.
• Use straws for liqs. They will drink more! Diff.
  straw for each liquid!
• Hold spoon _at_ right angle-feed from tip of spoon.

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Observations

• Dysphagia? No STRAWS!
• Difficulty swallowing-Use product called Thick-It
• This allows liquids to solidify slightly and make
  liqs easier to swallow.
• Per MD or Dietitian orders!!!!!

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Observations

• Encourage resident to eat!
• Provide a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere!
• Give resident sufficient time to chew food.
• Offer liquids and alternate with dessert if
  resident does not want to eat!

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Recording/Documentation

• Observe how much the resident ate and record on
  nutritional record.
• What if the resident does not like certain foods?
• Ask for substitute foods.

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Record Intake and Output

• Intakes must be recorded per MDs orders-anything
  taken in body as intake-oral, IV, etc.
• Outputs must be recorded _at_ times per
  orders-anything removed from body-urine, feces,
  emesis!

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CHOKING!

• Be alert for signs of choking!
• Feed small quantities to prevent choking.
• Allow time to chew.
• Provide liquids to keep mouth moist.

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CVA

• If resident has had stroke, one side of mouth may
  be affected.
• As you feed resident, direct food toward
  unaffected side.
• Watch throat for swallowing.
• Watch for lodged foodchoking.
• Be prepared for Heimlich maneuver.