What is the primary intervention for an older adult client experiencing difficulty swallowing?

Monitoring the client during meals is a crucial intervention for an older adult experiencing difficulty swallowing. This approach ensures the client's safety while eating and allows for immediate assistance if choking or aspiration occurs. By observing the client, healthcare providers can assess their swallowing abilities in real-time, adjust the diet or food textures as necessary, and provide prompt support, which is essential for preventing complications associated with dysphagia.

Other options, while they may belong to a broader care plan, do not address the immediate need for safety and supervision. For instance, simply encouraging solid foods could exacerbate the swallowing difficulty, while providing thicker liquids might be beneficial but still requires monitoring to ensure the client is managing the textures safely. Offering pureed food options also helps, but without supervision, there remains a risk of aspiration or choking, highlighting the importance of monitoring during the eating process.