2021 Volume 71 Issue 1 Pages 19-27
Few dentists are involved in meal planning at nursing homes with assisted living. Therefore, we believe that it is important to clarify the associations among meal type, oral environment, and physical status in residents of such facilities. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple screening method to assess the risk of dysphagia based on the physical status and oral environment. The subjects were 99 residents (mean age: 84.9±8.6 years) in two nursing homes offering assisted living. Their meal types, physical status, and oral environments were investigated. Data for analysis included three items (the Modified Water Swallowing Test, ability to brush independently, and stability of molar occlusion with consideration of denture wearing), along with data regarding meal types. These items were combined, and a chart to assess the risk of dysphagia in these residents was developed. When we classified the subjects into 8 categories by the data from the chart. Meal types in categories 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 involved only regular or chopped food. On the other hand, blender food and parenteral intake were noted in categories 4, 7, and 8.
The chart developed in this study assessed the risk of dysphagia based on the state of physical and oral environments in a simple manner using only the three above-mentioned items, and the discomfort to residents was minimal.
