Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the one year-change of vitality index and factors related to the change of 118 dependent elderly individuals (men 25 and 93 women ; mean age, 84.2±7.7 years old) residing at a care facility.
Vitality was determined using a vitality index evaluated by care givers. For the oral function, we evaluated the number of present teeth, simplified functional tooth units and conducted a modified water swallow test. The parameters for physical and mental activities were age, sex, degree of long-term care needed, dietary form, diet related functional independence measure, body mass index, albumin level, comorbidity score and a mini-mental state examination.
The study showed that the vitality index for about 60% of the subjects declined after one year. The factor related to the decline of vitality index was the diet-related functional independence measure.
Our results suggest that the maintenance of functional independence for the diet is essential to prevent the decline of vitality for elderly individuals who require assistance with their long term care.
