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

为制定社区老年人口腔功能改善方案，对社区老年人进行口腔功能调查。通过6个月的连续训练，观察口腔功能的变化。我们还进行了为期两年的纵向研究，以探讨口腔功能变化的决定因素。口腔功能下降或沟通满意度下降与ADL、QOL、活力评分降低显著相关。经过6个月的口腔与运动功能改善计划，受试者的言语和吞咽功能得到了维持。在为期两年的纵向研究中，唇和舌运动的精细度下降反映了吞咽困难风险的增加。本研究结果显示，社区老年人口腔功能改善计划，包括身体活动及运动，以提高唇、舌运动功能的精细度，是更有效的。

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.