Feeding a Resident

Health Science Technology

Nursing

J. Hodge, RN

Good Nutrition

• Important part of a resident’s 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

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

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

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!

Responsibilities

• Check the tray carefully against resident’s name and room #.

• Check diet type as ordered

• Never add any food or condiment to tray with checking with manager.

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.

Blind Resident?

• Visually impaired? Instruct resident what food is on tray by comparing to a clock.

• Meat is at 12, beans @ 3, potatoes @ 6, etc.

• Make sure all food/utensils are placed conveniently.

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!

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 @ right angle-feed from tip of spoon.

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!!!!!

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!

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.

Record Intake and Output

• Intakes must be recorded per MD’s orders-anything taken in body as intake-oral, IV, etc.

• Outputs must be recorded @ times per orders-anything removed from body-urine, feces, emesis!

CHOKING!

• Be alert for signs of choking!

• Feed small quantities to prevent choking.

• Allow time to chew.

• Provide liquids to keep mouth moist.

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 food=choking.• Be prepared for Heimlich

maneuver.