How should a patient care assistant handle feeding a client with dysphagia according to best practices?

The correct approach for feeding a client with dysphagia is to ensure that the client is sitting upright during oral intake. Maintaining an upright position is crucial as it helps to facilitate safe swallowing and reduces the risk of aspiration, where food or liquid enters the airway. This position promotes optimal alignment of the throat and esophagus, allowing the swallowing mechanism to function effectively.

Additionally, when a client is upright, gravity assists in the movement of food down into the stomach, which can help to minimize the chances of swallowing difficulties and choking. Best practices in caring for clients with dysphagia emphasize safety and comfort during feeding, ensuring that the individual can swallow food and liquids efficiently while minimizing health risks.

In contrast, speeding up the feeding process or encouraging simultaneous activities could distract the client and increase the likelihood of aspiration or choking. Offering only solid foods eliminates the possibility of providing modified diets that may be safer and easier to swallow, such as pureed or soft foods, which could better meet the client's nutritional needs. Therefore, positioning them correctly during meals is a fundamental component of safe feeding practices for clients with dysphagia.