The experience of eating for older nursing home residents with dysphagia: A qualitative descriptive study

Background

Understanding the experience of eating for nursing home residents with dysphagia is essential for developing effective and holistic compensatory intervention programmes for older adults with dysphagia. However, there is a lack of studies on the experience of eating for older adults with dysphagia, especially for individuals in Asian cultures.

Objectives

This study aimed to understand the experience of eating for older nursing home residents who have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), which is often a problem for this population.

Methods

This qualitative descriptive study recruited older nursing home residents with dysphagia from facilities in central Taiwan. Residents were recruited by purposive sampling. Data were collected through individual in-depth semistructured face-to-face interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed interview data were analysed with content analysis.

Results

A total of 20 residents participated in the study; the mean age was 78.7 years (standard deviation = 8.54 years); male and female residents were equally represented. The main core theme describing the experience of eating for nursing home residents with dysphagia was irregular coughing, which often occurred spontaneously. Three subthemes described how residents responded: making adjustments to eating and swallowing, receiving assistance from NH staff and fear of eating.

Conclusions

Our findings can serve as an evidence-based reference for clinical care aimed at nursing home residents with dysphagia. Support programmes that provide safe swallowing skills and emotional support for managing dysphagia are recommended.

Implications for practice

Nursing home residents with dysphagia should receive interventions focussed on self-supporting care, training in swallowing skills and emotional support.