Mental health and dementiaQuestion 757 of 1700
A resident holds food in her mouth and does not swallow. What can you try?
- Press firmly on the jaw until the mouth opens
- Gently rub the neck over the throat to prompt a swallow
- Put more food into the mouth to prompt swallowing
- Tell the resident to spit the food out into a napkin
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Correct answer: Gently rub the neck over the throat to prompt a swallow
Gentle neck rubbing often prompts swallowing.
Source: Nursing Assistant (Reuter), 10.6: Promoting Nutritional Intake
Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026