Feeding by mouth
Mealtimes should be calm and pleasant, in a clean environment and away from unpleasant odours, and meals should look visually appealing. Food temperature must be appropriate to avoid burning.
Position your family member or help him/her get into a sitting position or lift head of bed. The person in bed must be in a sitting position. By adopting this position, the entry of food into the airway and lungs is prevented in case of vomiting or regurgitation.
The patient should be encouraged to wash hands before each meal.
To facilitate this process you can cut and organize the food on the plate so that the patient can see and eat the food without difficulty.
The patient needs to have his/her own pace while chewing and swallowing food. In case of food trapped in mouth, you can try massaging the patient’s face with circular movements from lower to the upper part, asking the patient to try and swallow them.
You should constantly provide the patient with water (during meals and in other periods during the day).
At the end of each meal, proceed with or assist the patient in washing teeth and mouth.
You should keep your family member in a sitting position for up to 30 minutes after the end of the meal (help reposition her/himself if necessary). After this period, you should preferably keep head of bed slightly lifted.
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