Feeding Assistance Feeding Assistance ProgramProgram

First off. . . . First off. . . .

Thanks for Thanks for volunteering!volunteering!

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

3 sections;3 sections;

SwallowingSwallowing Feeding assistanceFeeding assistance Oral careOral care

Swallowing Swallowing

Swallowing (deglutition)Swallowing (deglutition)

Swallowing problems Swallowing problems (dysphagia)(dysphagia)

SwallowingSwallowing

3 stages involved in swallowing;3 stages involved in swallowing;

Oral stageOral stage Pharyngeal stagePharyngeal stage Esophageal stageEsophageal stage

Oral stageOral stage

Pharyngeal stagePharyngeal stage

Esophageal stageEsophageal stage

Why are we concerned Why are we concerned about swallowing?about swallowing?

AspirationAspiration Choking (airway blockage)Choking (airway blockage) MalnutritionMalnutrition DehydrationDehydration

What to watch for What to watch for when screening for when screening for dysphagia.dysphagia.

Coughing when eatingCoughing when eating ‘‘Wet’ vocalizations or respirationWet’ vocalizations or respiration Throat clearingThroat clearing

So, what can you do So, what can you do to help?to help?

Feeding assistanceFeeding assistance

The goal of assistanceThe goal of assistance

Maintain adequate nutrition and Maintain adequate nutrition and hydration. hydration.

This is essential for fighting This is essential for fighting infection, recovering from illness, infection, recovering from illness, stopping skin breakdown, and stopping skin breakdown, and helping to reduce confusionhelping to reduce confusion

Watch for signs of aspiration!Watch for signs of aspiration! CompanionCompanion

Different types of Different types of assistanceassistance

Companion/encourageCompanion/encourage Assistance with setupAssistance with setup Partial assistancePartial assistance Full, one-on-one feeding Full, one-on-one feeding

assistanceassistance

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

Wash your handsWash your hands Remove wrappingRemove wrapping Open cartonsOpen cartons Open and place strawsOpen and place straws Remember infection controlRemember infection control Butter breadButter bread Dice foodsDice foods

Others will need Others will need partial assistance. . .partial assistance. . .

You may need to help with the You may need to help with the menumenu

Wash your handsWash your hands Setup the environmentSetup the environment Make sure the meal is appropriateMake sure the meal is appropriate Glasses on and hearing aids inGlasses on and hearing aids in Remember, eating is social!Remember, eating is social! Sit at eye level and off to one sideSit at eye level and off to one side

Table at the right levelTable at the right level Food in front and reachableFood in front and reachable Orient them to the location of itemsOrient them to the location of items Think of a clockThink of a clock Sometimes special feeding aidsSometimes special feeding aids Oxygen mask?Oxygen mask? DenturesDentures Upright at 90 degreesUpright at 90 degrees Call bellCall bell

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

These patients will be fed by hospital These patients will be fed by hospital staffstaff

Special needs that require 1-on-1 helpSpecial needs that require 1-on-1 help We control all aspects of the mealWe control all aspects of the meal Generally very serious risks Generally very serious risks

associated with feeding and/or associated with feeding and/or significant nutritional riskssignificant nutritional risks

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

Food can be pureed, minced, Food can be pureed, minced, chopped, or regular.chopped, or regular.

Liquids can be very thick, thick, or Liquids can be very thick, thick, or thin (regular)thin (regular)

Oral careOral care

Another area where you can help Another area where you can help make a HUGE differencemake a HUGE difference

Many patients don’t even have a Many patients don’t even have a toothbrush/toothpaste in the hospital.toothbrush/toothpaste in the hospital.

One study found that almost 90 One study found that almost 90 percent of nursing home residents percent of nursing home residents with pneumonia got pneumonia from with pneumonia got pneumonia from aspirating bacteria from poor oral aspirating bacteria from poor oral care.care.

After the meal. . . .After the meal. . . .

Encourage oral care after all meals.Encourage oral care after all meals. Especially in the eveningEspecially in the evening Studies show that if you do it at all, do Studies show that if you do it at all, do

it in the evening. it in the evening. You can help with setup of the brush, You can help with setup of the brush,

paste, mouthwash.paste, mouthwash. Check to see if we have special Check to see if we have special

products there for them.products there for them. You may need to put the paste on. You may need to put the paste on.