Which steps help feed a resident with dysphagia to reduce aspiration risk?

Which steps help feed a resident with dysphagia to reduce aspiration risk?

• A. Position resident upright 45-90 degrees, offer small bites, allow to chew and swallow before continuing, use chin-tuck if advised, monitor for coughing, document intake.
• B. Feed rapidly without breaks.
• C. Feed while resident is lying flat.
• D. Skip supervision.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is reducing aspiration risk during feeding for someone with dysphagia by combining safe positioning, careful pacing, airway protection, and careful monitoring. Positioning upright at about a 45- to 90-degree angle uses gravity to help the swallow go down toward the stomach rather than toward the airway, which lowers the chance of food or liquid entering the lungs. Offering small bites paired with allowing time to chew and completely swallow before giving more helps the swallowing mechanism work step by step and prevents residue from pooling in the throat. The chin-tuck maneuver, if advised by a clinician, adds a protective effect by narrowing the airway entrance during swallowing, helping prevent material from slipping into the airway. Monitoring for coughing or other signs of distress during feeding acts as a crucial safety check—if trouble is noticed, you pause feeding and assess. Finally, documenting intake records how much was eaten, which supports ongoing assessment and care planning. Feeding rapidly while the resident is lying flat or skipping supervision increases the risk of aspiration and is unsafe, which is why those practices are not appropriate.

The key idea is reducing aspiration risk during feeding for someone with dysphagia by combining safe positioning, careful pacing, airway protection, and careful monitoring.

Positioning upright at about a 45- to 90-degree angle uses gravity to help the swallow go down toward the stomach rather than toward the airway, which lowers the chance of food or liquid entering the lungs. Offering small bites paired with allowing time to chew and completely swallow before giving more helps the swallowing mechanism work step by step and prevents residue from pooling in the throat. The chin-tuck maneuver, if advised by a clinician, adds a protective effect by narrowing the airway entrance during swallowing, helping prevent material from slipping into the airway. Monitoring for coughing or other signs of distress during feeding acts as a crucial safety check—if trouble is noticed, you pause feeding and assess. Finally, documenting intake records how much was eaten, which supports ongoing assessment and care planning.

Feeding rapidly while the resident is lying flat or skipping supervision increases the risk of aspiration and is unsafe, which is why those practices are not appropriate.