What is a key choking-risk precaution when feeding a resident with dysphagia?

• A. Use appropriate textures and liquid thickness, offer small bites, maintain an upright position, and monitor closely; stop if coughing occurs
• B. Serve large bites
• C. Feed while resident lying down
• D. Do not monitor coughing

Answer: (A)

The key idea is preventing choking and aspiration by adjusting how you feed someone with dysphagia. Using textures and liquid thickness that match their swallowing ability helps control what enters the airway. Offering small bites gives the person time to chew and swallow safely, reducing the amount that could go into the airway at once. Keeping the resident upright during and after meals uses gravity to help the swallow and keeps food away from the airway. Monitoring closely for coughing is essential because coughing can signal that material has entered the airway; if coughing occurs, you stop feeding and reassess before continuing.

In contrast, large bites, feeding while lying down, and not watching for coughing all increase choking and aspiration risk and are unsafe practices.