I’m a chef in a care home, we have a gentleman who is on a puréed diet due to him aspirating. He has been recently asking for non-puréed food. He has dementia. I’m sure if a resident does not have dementia then they can make that decision for themselves, but what if they have dementia? I don’t want to give him solid food when medical professionals are putting him on the diet for a reason, if he cannot chose to have solid food because off dementia can his POA ask us to give him what he wants if the gentleman and the POA have spoken and chosen that he can eat what he likes? I feel bad as it can’t be nice to not be able to eat what you like but on the other hand it’s what’s best for his health he’s only been put on a puréed diet for the last 3 months, his dementia is not bad. Thank you.
The decisions will be made by person (if able) and/or POA if needed, whether to place a tube for feeding or not.
It would be medically NEGILIGENT for a nursing home or any other care facility to feed a patient who is choking. It would have to be reported, discussed with MD and person acting as POA.
If you note choking in a patient this should be reported to the Administration. You are mandated to do this.
In case you're not aware, aspiration pneumonia is in most cases fatal and thus why foods need to be pureed and drinks need to be thickened.
I'm sure you don't want to be the reason that this gentleman dies from aspiration pneumonia because you chose to serve him non pureed food right?
Think about that, as this is quite serious.