Assess his swallowing abilities. Do this to take any necessary precautions before giving your patient his medication. Check to see how well your patient can swallow before giving him his medication. Check to make sure his gag reflex is intact and that he can cough. A depressed gag and cough reflex are indicative of increased risk of aspiration.
Prepare the medication in a form that is easy for your patient to swallow. Determine what food consistency your patient can manipulate with his tongue and mouth and prepare the medication in that form if not contraindicated.
Place the medication in the strong side of your patients mouth. If your patient has muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of his body, administer his medication on the unaffected side, which is the stronger side.
Give pill medications one at a time. Make sure your patient has fully swallowed each pill before you give the next one.
Don't use straws to administer medication to a patient at risk for aspiration. They reduce your patients control over the amount of fluid he is ingesting and may lead to aspiration.
Give medication when your client is well rested and alert. Your client may be well rested at this time and have the energy to swallow his medication.
Administer the medication through another route. Do this if your patients aspiration risk is really high.