Characterization of Food Intake and Swallowing of Older Adults in a Geriatric Center in the City of Cali, in the period 2018-2019. Caracterización de la Ingesta de Alimentos y Deglución de los Adultos Mayores de un Centro Geriátrico de la Ciudad de Cali, en el periodo 2018-2019

Abstract

This scientific article shows the results of the research project “Characterization of food intake and swallowing of older adults in the Santa Luisa San José and San Camilo pavilions of the San Miguel Geriatric Center in the city of Cali- Valle Colombia, during the period 2018-2019ª”. Objective. The purpose was to identify the characteristics of food intake and swallowing in older adults in the Geriatric Hospital. The problem statement was based on the multiple causes of alteration in the processes of food intake and swallowing that older adults present in their evolutionary process that involves the aging of the human being, influenced by numerous conditioning factors, intrinsic as genetic, state of health and other extrinsic ones such as habits in general, which can therefore generate consequences not only of malnutrition but also of alterations in the process of intake and even death.

Method. Quantitative approach, type of descriptive research Transversal, according to the author Ramírez (2017). The data collection was performed an anamnesis and an evaluation of the food intake and swallowing of González and Toledo (2000), the FOIS scale of O´ NEIL ET AL, (1999) and the orofacial motor assessment protocol (PEMO ) by Susanibar (2015). Data were collected in an excell document. The xx program was used for data analysis. The SPSS program was used for data analysis.

Results The sociodemographic objective showed that the age range with the greatest number of people is 77 to 79 years of age, with 36%, educational level 46 people primary course corresponding to 57%. The largest occupation is that of a service employee, 16 people with 20%. Regarding the population evaluated, it was divided into three groups: patients with neurological disorders 29 people with 36%, patients with sensory disorders 28 people with 35% and patients without any diagnosis 23 people with 29%. In relation to the process of food intake and swallowing it was found that there is adapted chewing, in the neurological group, with 8 people corresponding to 22% of the population. Weak suction in 12 people of the neurological group, corresponding to 29%. Regarding the swallowing process, in the preparatory and oral stage it was found that the most affected group is the neurological 23 women corresponds to 100%, followed by the sensory group 10 men with 57%. Regarding the classification of the FOIS scale, at level 5, 1 woman from the 4% neurological group and at level 6, 7 women from the 26% neurological group.

Conclusions. In the population evaluated there are more alterations in the process of food intake in the group of adults with neurological alteration with him 100% and female gender in 79%. The most compromised structure was the teeth, since edentulism, dentures that were poorly adapted were usually evident and 70% of the population does not use dental prostheses. It is essential to highlight that the function of the glottic sphincter is affected in the elderly, starting with symptoms of the vocal, voice and swallowing organ; to the extent that time goes by, it loses muscle tone, leading to symptoms such as cough, cough and swallowing and swallowing strength: therefore, 100% of the neurological population and 57% of the population with sensory disturbances have problems in their food intake. It is important to make recommendations to improve your safe feeding process, taking into account consistencies, textures, temperatures, according to particular needs.