WHEN ASSISTING A RESIDENT TO EAT
- Always sit down with the resident when you are helping them to eat
- Always explain what you are offering them
- Give them time to finishing chewing and swallowing before offering more food or drink
- Do not touch the food with your bare hands
- Carefully watch how you put the food into the resident's mouth
- Provide bite size pieces
- Sanitize your hands with the alcohol gel before assisting with meals and after each resident contact
- Do not touch the silverware portions that go into the mouth with your bare hands
- Pick up plates, bowls, cups from the bottom portions - never touch areas that will be contact with the resident's food or mouth
- Refer to the white binder at the front of the dining room for resident seating preference
- Those resident who require thickened liquids are also noted in the white binder - their names will be written in red
- This is important for resident safety and health!! Thickened liquids are required for some residents to help them avoid choking and aspirating fluid into their lungs. Aspirating liquid into the lungs can lead to serious infections such as pneumonia.
- Ask the kitchen staff for thickened liquids.
- Refer to the resident meal ticket for specific dietary orders or ask the kitchen staff if you have any questions
- Walk around the dining room and ask the residents if there is anything they need such as something to drink, more food to eat, or a different food choice.
- If the resident asks for coffee, make sure you ask how they take it (with cream or sugar). Cream and sugar packets are located by the coffee dispensers in the front area of the dining room. The hot cocoa dispensers and hot water dispensers and tea bags for tea are also in this area.
- A cart with all other drinks will be wheeled out into the dining room by kitchen staff for each meal. During meals the drink cart is always located within the dining room.
- Take time to sit down with residents and eat and talk with them. This is a great time to develop relationships with the residents.
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