At the end of the meal, what should be done regarding hygiene?

• A. The client’s mouth is wiped and hands are cleaned
• B. The tray remains on the table
• C. The client is asked to brush teeth
• D. The client is repositioned to lie down immediately

Answer: (A)

After meals, addressing hygiene means cleaning the areas that touched food. Wiping the client’s mouth and cleaning their hands removes food particles, helps prevent odor and bacteria, and promotes comfort and dignity. Leaving the tray on the table isn’t a hygiene action and can lead to clutter or contamination. Asking the client to brush teeth is part of oral care, but it’s not always needed immediately after a meal, and repositioning to lie down doesn’t address hygiene. Therefore, wiping the mouth and cleaning the hands is the appropriate immediate hygiene step.