Efficacy of a Comprehensive Dysphagia Intervention Program Tailored for the Residents of Nursing Homes

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a widespread condition in older people and thus poses a serious health threat to the residents of nursing homes. The management of dysphagia relies mainly on compensatory strategies, such as diet and environmental modification. This study investigated the efficacy of an intervention program using a single-arm interventional study design. Twenty-two participants from nursing homes were included and had an average of 26 hours of intervention, including oromotor exercises, orosensory stimulation and exercises to target dysphagia and caregiver training. Four of the 22 participants exhibited improvement in functional oral intake scale (FOIS) but was not statistically significant as a group. All oromotor function parameters, including the range, strength, and coordination of movements, significantly improved. These results indicate that this intervention program could potentially improve the oromotor function, which were translated into functional improvements in some participants' recommended diets. The validity of this study could be improved further by using standardized swallowing and feeding assessment methods or an instrumental swallowing assessment.