Practice Quiz

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Category - Implementing Interventions

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Your nursing home patient, Helen, is an 89-year-old woman with a diagnosis of advanced Alzheimer’s disease. At breakfast, you see Helen being fed by a nursing assistant while reclined in a geri chair. What do you say to the nursing assistant?
  1. “Do not feed Helen. Let her feed herself, so she can be as independent as possible.”
  2. “Great job! You are feeding Helen exactly right.”
  3. “Do not feed Helen with the chair reclined. She might choke or aspirate food.”
  4. “Do not feed Helen in the dining room. She makes too big a mess.”
Explanation
Answer: C. You tell the nursing assistant not to feed Helen with the chair reclined. Since Helen has advanced Alzheimer’s disease, her mouth and tongue mobility may be limited. She may not be able to react to the way food enters her mouth and throat if she is reclined. Food may cause her to choke or may enter her lungs through aspiration, putting her at risk for pneumonia.
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