Final answer:
A Certified Nursing Assistant will observe the mouth, lips, teeth, and tongue of Mrs. Smith, a 92-year-old non-responsive resident, to ensure proper oral health and hygiene. Observing these areas helps identify potential problems and monitors for signs of discomfort. Maintaining oral care in elderly, dependent individuals is essential to prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
To provide oral care for Mrs. Smith, who is a 92-year-old dependent resident that does not respond or move, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) will carefully observe the mouth, lips, teeth, and tongue during oral care. This observation is crucial for identifying any potential problems such as mouth infections, dental issues, or abnormalities in the oral mucosa. As Mrs. Smith is unable to communicate verbally, it is particularly important for the CNA to be vigilant in monitoring for signs of discomfort, pain, or other issues that might arise during oral care procedures. Effective oral care is an important aspect of overall healthcare, especially in elderly patients who may be at a higher risk for oral health problems.
Oral care in non-responsive or dependent individuals like Mrs. Smith should be done with gentle care and patience, ensuring that the resident's dignity is maintained throughout the process. In addition to looking for signs of oral health issues, CNAs are also trained to assess the resident's ability to swallow and to maintain oral hygiene to prevent conditions such as pneumonia, which can be caused by the aspiration of bacteria from the mouth into the lungs.