Dysphagia among nursing home residents

Geriatr Nurs. 1999 Mar-Apr;20(2):77-82; quiz 84. doi: 10.1053/gn.1999.v20.97011.

Abstract

As part of a larger study that investigated the social, cultural, clinical, and environmental factors that influenced nutritional intake in two proprietary nursing homes, 82 of 100 residents who were not eating well received a bedside dysphagia screening evaluation by a speech pathologist. This article reports on the dysphagia evaluation results and the consequences of swallowing disorders for nursing home residents. Forty-five of the 82 residents (55%) had some degree of dysphagia, ranging from mild to profound, but only 10 of these 45 residents (22%) had been referred for a dysphagia evaluation. Unrecognized and unmanaged dysphagia may lead to dehydration, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and asphyxiation. Assessment and management of dysphagia also are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Deglutition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Deglutition Disorders / nursing*
  • Deglutition Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Energy Intake*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Nursing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Assessment / methods
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Homes
  • Nutrition Disorders / etiology
  • Nutrition Disorders / prevention & control
  • Posture
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires