The development of combined oral-functional improvement program including speech and swallowing function for community-dwelling elderly.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We conducted the survey of the oral function for community-dwelling elderly, to develop the oral-functional improvement program. We investigated the change of oral function after the 6-month continuously practice of the program. We also conducted the two-year longitudinal study to investigate the determinants of the change of the oral function. Decline of the oral function or satisfaction for communication significantly associated with lower score of ADL, QOL, and vitality. Subjects with practicing 6-month combined oral and motor functional improvement program showed the maintenance of speech and swallowing function. In the two-year longitudinal study, decline of elaborateness in lip and tongue movements reflected the increasing of dysphagia risk. Our results indicated that oral functional improvement program, including the physical activity and exercise to heighten the elaborateness in motor function of lip and tongue is more effective for community-dwelling elderly.