How to Assist With Feeding Residents in Nursing Homes

In 2002 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Assistance, under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced a new proposal to bring in trained assistants who could help feed residents of nursing homes. A subsequent study of this intervention demonstrated that 90% of nursing home residents increased their nutritional intake as a result of the increased staff assistance at meal and snack times. Helping feed nursing home residents is challenging but knowing how important it is makes the task a rewarding one as well.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access

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Instructions

Volunteering as a Feeding Assistant

• 1

  Identify a nursing home which needs assistants to come in during mealtimes to help feed the residents. The local state's Department of Health and/or Human Services will have information about licensed nursing homes throughout the state (see the references below to find a listing of each state's relevant Department of Health and/or Human Services).

• 2

  Speak with the director of the facility to find out what help is needed. Volunteers don't need to be licensed as feeding assistants when volunteering in a nursing home but the staff will wish to train a volunteer assistant in the techniques and methods which will maximize the assistance given. Some states have regulations about training volunteers in a nursing home--these can be found through the local Department of Health and/or Human Resources (see references).

• 3

  Establish set times each day and establish the days each week when the volunteer assistance will be offered to the nursing home. Work with the staff to coordinate these times. The staff will be counting on this assistance so be punctual and responsible about coming when times are set.

Working as a Feeding Assistant at a Nursing Home

• 4

  Research the Federal regulations that are necessary to acquire licensing as a feeding assistant in a nursing home. Feeding assistants are required to complete an 8-hour course taught by a licensed registered nurse that includes the following:
  (1) Feeding techniques
  (2) Assistance with feeding and hydration
  (3) Communication and interpersonal skills
  (4) Appropriate responses to resident behavior
  (5) Safety and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver
  (6) Infection control
  (7) Resident rights
  (8) Recognizing behavioral and health changes in residents; how to report these changes to the supervisory nurse

  These courses are offered through local nursing homes. The local State Department of Health and/or Human Services (see references) will be able to direct an applicant to a nearby course.

• 5

  Investigate whether there are additional requirements to be completed for licensing as a feeding assistant from the local State Department of Health and/or Human Services. Some states do have additional requirements.

• 6

  Upon completion of the feeding assistant course it is possible to apply for employment as a feeding assistant at a nursing home.

• 7

  Submit to a background check. All nursing home employees are required to undergo a background check. This is the responsibility of the nursing home administrator where the applicant is applying for employment.

  If an applicant's name appears on the Nursing Assistant Registry as having abuse or neglect charges proven against them they will be unable to be employed as a feeding assistant.