[The association between health-related quality of life and voice as evaluated by an acoustic analysis in elderly Japanese nursing home residents].

Purpose: We carried out a cross-sectional study investigating the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and voice, as evaluated by an acoustic analysis, in elderly residents of a nursing home.

Methods: The HRQOL of 61 elderly nursing home residents (mean age: 82.1±8.

[Oral diadochokinesis among Japanese aged over 55 years: analysis of standard values].

Aim: We investigated oral diadochokinesis (OD) among 212 Japanese aged over 55 years to assess the standard values of articulation ability.

Methods: Each subject repeatedly produced the OD syllables /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/. Subjects were divided into three age-groups (55-64 years, 65-74 years, and over 75 years) and by gender to compare the number of OD syllables per second.

[Relationship between comprehensive quality of life and factors related to chewing and swallowing function among community-dwelling elderly individuals].

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between comprehensive quality of life (QOL) and some factors regarding chewing and swallowing function among community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Methods: The subjects were 675 independent elderly persons residing in the northern area of Miyazaki Prefecture, and we obtained the self-administered questionnaires from 545 elderly people. We used "active scale for the elderly (ASE)" and "dysphagia risk assessment for the community-dwelling elderly (DRACE)" to evaluate their comprehensive QOL and function of chewing and swallowing, respectively.

[Association between activities of daily living and oral diadochokinesis among Japanese elderly individuals in a nursing home].

Aim: We studied the association between the activities of daily living (ADL) and oral diadochokinesis (OD) among 84 Japanese elderly individuals residing in a nursing home.

Methods: We assessed OD in terms of speech and articulation. Each subject repetitively produced the syllables /pa/, /ta/, /ka/ and the sequence /pataka/.

Factors influencing oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among the frail elderly residing in the community with their family.

The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that influence quality of life (QoL) among frail elderly individuals residing in the community, in order to improve the level of home care related to oral health. Participants were 100 pairs comprising elderly individuals requiring care and their family caregivers. Questionnaire items for the family caregivers related to demographic variables, hours spent caregiving per day, and duration of caregiving.

[Labial closure force, activities of daily living, and cognitive function in frail elderly persons].

Aim: Few studies have reported the influence of declining labial closure force on ADL among frail elderly persons. We therefore investigated to elucidate the relationships among labial closure force, ADL and cognitive function in frail elderly persons.

Methods: The subjects were 92 frail elderly persons.

Relationship between general health status and the change in chewing ability: a longitudinal study of the frail elderly in Japan over a 3-year period.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to identify the onset predictors of a change in chewing ability over a 3-year period in the frail elderly.

Methods: The subjects were frail elderly people living in southern Japan. Data were collected at baseline (n = 92) and 3 years later (n = 60).

Feelings of burden and health-related quality of life among family caregivers looking after the impaired elderly.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between feelings of burden and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among family caregivers looking after the impaired elderly residing in a community located in southern Japan. Subjects were 85 pairs comprising elderly individuals requiring care and their respective family caregivers. Questionnaire items for the family caregivers related to demographic variables, caregivers' burden, HRQOL, use of public services, hours spent caregiving, duration of caregiving, and satisfaction with verbal communication with family.

[Factors affecting subjective satisfaction with verbal communication among the disabled elderly and their family caregivers].

The aims of the present study were to investigate satisfaction with verbal communication among the disabled elderly and their family caregivers; and to find the significantly influential factors of satisfaction with verbal communication. The subjects were 85 disabled elderly and 85 family caregivers. For the disabled elderly, satisfaction with verbal communication, demographic, and physical factors were examined using an interview survey.

[Care assessment related to dysphagia in the frail elderly].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate some symptoms related to dysphagia, comprehensive health status, and oral care in the frail elderly. The subjects were 92 elderly individuals (30 men, 62 women) above 65 years in a nursing home. The risk factors of dysphagia were evaluated by 15 items of self-assessment and 18 items of assessment by their caregivers.