Objective: The purpose of this study is to clarify the experiences of family caregivers engaging in the dysphagia care for super-elderly people with swallowing disorders due to aging. Methods: Face-to-face personal interviews were conducted, using qualitative descriptive method, with six family caregivers of super-elderly people aged 90 and above, who were at risk of aspiration pneumonia. Results: In this study, experiences are defined as follows: “thoughts”, “feelings”, and “conduct”, all of which the caregivers had through dysphagia care. The data generated six categories: “To try groping for less regrettable way of caring”, “To let the care receivers enjoy eating, avoiding the risk of aspiration”, and “To make preparation for the end-of-life stage, sharing with healthcare professionals, their information and knowledge about ever-changing willingness and physical strength to eat” and so on. Considering the nature of the six categories identified above, the two core categories were extracted: “To adopt the assessment of the progress of senility and sickness by healthcare professionals for care” and “To provide care tailored to super-elderly people’s willingness and physical condition to eat”. Conclusion: Family caregivers provided dysphagia care tailored to super-elderly people’s willingness and physical condition to eat based on the respectful relationship with healthcare professionals. Results of the analysis suggest to healthcare professionals the importance of mutual cooperation and communication aiming for capability of oral intake and peaceful end-of-life.
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