Tips for a safe and relaxed meal

• If the patient is able to feed himself, you should encourage him to do so. If he starts to tire, you can help.
• The patient may stop eating, but it could be that he is just tired and not yet full.
• Does the patient prefer to eat in company or alone?
  • Can this affect their concentration and therefore the ability to swallow?
  • This also applies to distractions like television or Radio.
• The patient should sit as upright as possible, preferably at 90 Degrees.
• Check that the mouth is clean and the dentures are secure before eating/drinking.
• Chose a safe and comfortable place for patient and never make him feel rushed.
• Avoid standing when eat/drink, this may make the patient feel rushed so that they eat/drink faster than they are able to.
• Ensure that patient stays hydrated while eating.
• Maintain eye contact with the patient and smile to create a relaxed environment.
• Avoid talking too much throughout the meal since it may distract the patient – a certain level of interaction is still good and can relax patients.
• The patient should sit upright for at least 30 minutes after the meal to allow food to go down properly and aid digestion.
• If the patient is struggling with the meal, try something different:
  • change the portion size
  • vary the time of day
  • explore how often you feed him until you find a suitable routine