What should CNAs do to promote safety during mealtimes?

What should CNAs do to promote safety during mealtimes?

• A. Sit residents upright, supervise, ensure proper positioning to prevent choking, and offer small bites as needed.
• B. Serve meals while resident lying down to maximize comfort.
• C. Rush residents through meals to save time.
• D. Avoid supervising while others are eating.

Answer: (A)

Safety during mealtimes hinges on proper positioning, close observation, and careful feeding pace. Keeping residents seated upright at about 90 degrees supports safe swallowing by using gravity to move the food and reduces the risk of choking or aspiration. Supervising during the meal allows the CNA to notice signs of swallowing difficulty, coughing, or distress and to intervene promptly. Offering small bites and giving enough time to chew and swallow further lowers the risk, ensuring the resident can manage each bite safely. Lying down during meals, rushing through them, or not supervising increase the chance of choking and aspiration and should be avoided.

Safety during mealtimes hinges on proper positioning, close observation, and careful feeding pace. Keeping residents seated upright at about 90 degrees supports safe swallowing by using gravity to move the food and reduces the risk of choking or aspiration. Supervising during the meal allows the CNA to notice signs of swallowing difficulty, coughing, or distress and to intervene promptly. Offering small bites and giving enough time to chew and swallow further lowers the risk, ensuring the resident can manage each bite safely. Lying down during meals, rushing through them, or not supervising increase the chance of choking and aspiration and should be avoided.