Patient Assistance During Mealtimes
At Ryde, we use a system of 3 coloured placemats to indicate patients who require assistance during mealtimes (policy link here: Mealtime Assistance and Safety – Red Placemat/ Blue Placemat - NSLHD, updated Dec 2023). The placemats can be ordered via EMR, and remember that placemats need to be re - ordered every time a diet is changed on EMR.
BLUE – TRAY ASIDE
BLUE – DELIVER TRAY
RED
Examples: • High risk of aspiration or chok- ing • 1:1 feeding assistance or super- vision due to dysphagia • Very modified diet/fluids or strict feeding recommendations
Examples: • Patients physically unable to feed themselves • Confused or cognitively im- paired and at risk of sustaining
Examples: • Patients who are safe to be left
alone with food but who re- quire set up assistance, help opening packages or encour- agement to eat.
burns with hot beverages • Requires supervision and
prompting to use safe swallow strategies in the absence of sig- nificant dysphagia
Regardless of level of assistance, all patients require standard safe mealtime practices including: • Positioning upright • Providing oral intake only if able to sustain alertness
• Hand hygiene prior to each meal • Diligent oral hygiene twice daily
All staff are encouraged to contact speech pathology or dietetics if you would like further information or training on this topic.
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