Meal Service/Tray Service

Meal Service/Tray Service 

Purpose: 

To provide the correct meal to the right resident, assist residents in reaching their maximum potential for self-feeding, and ensure a pleasant meal experience. 

Procedure: 

I. Preparation: 

• Wash your hands prior to handling food trays. 

• Check the diet card for: 

Name of the resident. 

The diet order. 

Special instructions. 

Allergies. 

• If you find differences between what the diet card says and what is served, notify the charge nurse or call the kitchen. 

II. Tray Handling: 

• Remove the tray from the food cart and see that all necessary items are there; silverware, napkins, cups, etc. 

• Take the tray to the resident’s room or table as quickly as possible to ensure that food is served at the appropriate temperatures. 

• Residents served in the dining rooms should not have their meals served on trays. Plates, silverware, and napkins should be removed from the tray and placed directly on the tables. 

III. Verification and Service: 

• Before serving the meal, verify the resident’s name by checking the arm band against the name printed on the diet card to ensure that you are serving the right diet to the right resident. 

• If the resident is unable to eat at regular mealtime, remove the meal at once and notify the charge nurse so that the meal can be kept hot until the resident is ready. 

• Arrange dishes and silverware so that they are easy for the resident to use. Arrange the plate so that the main entrée is closest to the resident. 

IV. Assistance: 

• Observe and provide whatever assistance the resident needs with eating. Cut meat, spread butter, open packets of crackers, and pour hot drinks. 

• Make sure that the resident has started eating and does not require more assistance before leaving the room or moving to serve another resident in the dining room. 

• Return to the resident’s room periodically during the meal period to check if further assistance is needed. 

• Encourage the resident to eat all of the diet served. Take time to talk with the resident and encourage socialization with other residents. Remember, mealtime is traditionally a social time. 

V. Completion: 

• Make sure that every resident receives a meal. Report any omissions immediately to your charge nurse. 

• Assist the resident in washing hands and face. 

• Reposition the resident as necessary following mealtime. Residents in bed cannot usually tolerate the upright eating position for long periods and need to be repositioned after every meal. 

• Assist the resident to leave the dining room. 

Equipment: 

• Diet slip. 

• Resident’s name band and allergy alert. 

References: 

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Requirements of Participation for Long-Term Care Facilities. 

• State Operations Manual (SOM), CMS.