Feeding Assistance Program

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Feeding Assistance Program
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First off. . . .

• Thanks for volunteering!

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Presentation Outline

• 3 sections
• Swallowing
• Feeding assistance
• Oral care

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Swallowing

• Swallowing (deglutition)
• Swallowing problems (dysphagia)

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Swallowing

• 3 stages involved in swallowing
• Oral stage
• Pharyngeal stage
• Esophageal stage

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Oral stage
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Pharyngeal stage
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Esophageal stage
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Why are we concerned about swallowing?

• Aspiration
• Choking (airway blockage)
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration

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What to watch for when screening for dysphagia.

• Coughing when eating
• Wet vocalizations or respiration
• Throat clearing

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So, what can you do to help?

• Feeding assistance

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The goal of assistance

• Maintain adequate nutrition and hydration.
• This is essential for fighting infection,
  recovering from illness, stopping skin breakdown,
  and helping to reduce confusion
• Watch for signs of aspiration!
• Companion

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Different types of assistance

• Companion/encourage
• Assistance with setup
• Partial assistance
• Full, one-on-one feeding assistance

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For some, helping with setup and being a
companion is enough

• Wash your hands
• Remove wrapping
• Open cartons
• Open and place straws
• Remember infection control
• Butter bread
• Dice foods

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Others will need partial assistance. . .

• You may need to help with the menu
• Wash your hands
• Setup the environment
• Make sure the meal is appropriate
• Glasses on and hearing aids in
• Remember, eating is social!
• Sit at eye level and off to one side

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• Table at the right level
• Food in front and reachable
• Orient them to the location of items
• Think of a clock
• Sometimes special feeding aids
• Oxygen mask?
• Dentures
• Upright at 90 degrees
• Call bell

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Others will need one-on-one feeding. . .

• These patients will be fed by hospital staff
• Special needs that require 1-on-1 help
• We control all aspects of the meal
• Generally very serious risks associated with
  feeding and/or significant nutritional risks

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What do our diets look like. . . . taste like?

• Food can be pureed, minced, chopped, or regular.
• Liquids can be very thick, thick, or thin
  (regular)

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Oral care

• Another area where you can help make a HUGE
  difference
• Many patients dont even have a
  toothbrush/toothpaste in the hospital.
• One study found that almost 90 percent of nursing
  home residents with pneumonia got pneumonia from
  aspirating bacteria from poor oral care.

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After the meal. . . .

• Encourage oral care after all meals.
• Especially in the evening
• Studies show that if you do it at all, do it in
  the evening.
• You can help with setup of the brush, paste,
  mouthwash.
• Check to see if we have special products there
  for them.
• You may need to put the paste on.