Which action should occur immediately after offering fluids during feeding every 3 bites?

• A. Offer encouragement to maximize food & fluid intake
• B. Leave area around resident's mouth clean & dry
• C. Record resident's intake on Food Acceptance Record
• D. Remove clothing protector & tidy area up

Answer: (A)

Encouraging the resident to continue eating and drinking after offering fluids helps meet both hydration and nutrition goals. When fluids are offered every few bites, gentle prompts and positive reinforcement motivate the resident to drink and keep eating, supporting overall intake and comfort during the meal. While keeping the area clean, recording intake, and tidying up are important tasks, they don’t take precedence at this moment of offering fluids; those steps are addressed at other times—cleanliness can be maintained during the feeding, recording is done after the meal or once intake is known, and the clothing protector is removed and the area tidied after the meal is finished.