How to nourish a sick person? 10 rules of serving meals to patients

One of the often overlooked activities is the proper preparation of the room. Meanwhile, it greatly affects the comfort of eating. This is a good time to ventilate the room. Also, remember to get rid of all distractions: turn off the TV or radio, and then, while feeding, do not talk to the sick person. Lack of focus can lead to a choking hazard.

If the patient has no special dietary recommendations or ailments that make eating difficult (e.g. dysphagia), prepare a meal according to his wishes. A sick person is much more likely to eat their favorite dish and does not have to like the cuisine you like. It is also important not to grind the food beforehand and not make it mush. The sick person is not a child and doing so may make him feel unwell. There is also a reason to say that “we eat with our eyes”, so let’s make sure that the dish looks nice. If it becomes necessary to break up the meal during the feeding phase, do so on a plate.

It has been established that the sick are often served meals in plastic dishes. After all, a normal plate can fall off and break. Meanwhile, no adult wants to use plastic tableware. It is also worth remembering that in some cases it can be even dangerous, because there are patients who reflexively grit their teeth on cutlery, which can lead to breaking the plastic and, consequently, swallowing it. If there are no additional indications, use normal cutlery. Only for specific recommendations, use specialized items, e.g. a cup with a nose cut.

Depending on the extent to which your client is fit, adjust the method of serving the meal to its capabilities. If he has enough bedside tables and he is able to eat on his own, do not force-feed him. Remember that the patient should be in a comfortable sitting position. If your assistance is needed, sit next to the bed so that you are on a similar level. At the same time, remember that your comfort is also important. Sometimes it takes a long time to serve the meal, so it’s worth sitting down comfortably.

Some people feel that wearing a bib on an adult may make them uncomfortable. Imagine, then, how the client will feel when they get their clothes or pajamas dirty with food. Currently available bibs for adults are disposable, practical and do not get wet, so they perfectly protect clothing. Also stock up on regular tissues. They will be helpful if the sick person gets his face dirty.

A mistake often made by caregivers is to offer help that is not required. If someone is able to eat on his own, you don’t really need to feed him. It is similar with the choice: fork versus spoon. If the patient is able to handle the fork, the spoon associated with feeding children is unnecessary.

Do you think giving larger bites will speed up the whole process? Nothing could be more wrong. The patient has to chew such bites for a long time, it may choke, and what is more, it can give the impression that you are impatient, which will cause a rush. It is always better to give a bite that is too small than too much. Each time also make sure that the patient has swallowed the previous dose.

If you are dealing with a sick person who needs to be fed, be especially careful. Use a fork or spoon to hit your mouth directly, without hitting your teeth along the way. Also, be careful not to insert the cutlery too deeply. Not only is this unpleasant, it can also make you gag and choke.

Don’t get upset if it takes longer than expected to serve your food. Think about how upset your loved one must be when you discover that they are not fit as usual. Your nervousness will make the sick person rush and possibly even more awkward.

Sick people do not want to eat for various reasons. Before you go to the doctor for help, think about what you can do on your own. Perhaps the meals you serve do not suit your mentee. Or maybe they have the wrong temperature or consistency? Also make sure they look nice. If the mentee does not open their mouth, it often helps to gently touch the mouth with a fork or spoon. Never, under any circumstances, do not carmine the sick person by force.