長期照顧機構長者於質地調整飲食之需求與照護

The Texture-Modified Diet Needs and Care of the Elderly in Long Term Care Facilities

營養攝取不均為長期照顧機構長者需重視的重要健康議題。依據衛生福利部口腔健康司統計，65歲以上長者普遍口腔狀況不佳；而居住於長期照顧機構長者更由於疾病因素容易導致咀嚼或吞嚥功能受到影響。觀察長期照顧機構長者飲食多以切碎、絞碎及流質方式提供飲食處理，使得長者對於原型食物需求與照護欠缺重視，亦因此提高了營養不良的風險。本文以實際案例針對口腔及進食評估，更透過文獻查證提出長者質地調整飲食以及口腔照護策略，期喚起長期照顧過程儘早發現長者於口腔與進食問題，並給予適當之飲食質地指導，以降低進食不佳與營養不良風險，進而提升個案整體之照護品質。

Unbalanced nutritional intake is a crucial health concern for the elderly residing in long-term care facilities. The Department of Oral Health of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has reported that people over the age of 65 generally experience poor oral health. Elderly individuals living in long-term care facilities are particularly susceptible to issues with mastication or swallowing function due to various health conditions. Additionally, long-term care facilities often provide diets that consist of primarily chopped, minced, and liquid foods. This can lead to the elderly neglecting the importance of consuming non-modified food, resulting in an increased risk of malnutrition. This article utilizes real-life cases to evaluate oral cavity and eating conditions. Based on literature reviews, nursing strategies such as texture modified diet and oral function training for the elderly are proposed to enable early detection of oral and eating issues. Appropriate dietary texture guidance is also given to minimize the risk of malnutrition and poor eating habits while improving the overall quality of care for long-term care residents.