When assisting a resident with muscle weakness of the mouth and throat, what is the recommended practice?

Feeding a resident with muscle weakness of the mouth and throat while sitting upright and allowing time to chew is the recommended practice because it helps ensure safety and promotes effective swallowing. This position minimizes the risk of aspiration, which can occur if food or liquids enter the airway instead of being swallowed correctly. Sitting upright allows gravity to assist with the swallowing process and provides better control over food intake.

Additionally, allowing time to chew is crucial because muscle weakness may slow down the resident’s ability to chew food effectively. This ensures that they can manage the texture and size of the food before attempting to swallow, further reducing the risk of choking.

Other options, such as feeding while lying down or only offering pureed food, do not address the need for optimal positioning or the importance of chewing. Serving small sips of water only, while it may seem safe, does not provide a balanced diet and may not completely address the resident's nutritional needs.