Kiyoko Yamasaki

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

Abstract  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. Questionnaire items for the elderly recipients of care concerned demographic variables, activities of daily living, and cognitive status. According to bivariate analysis, caregivers’ burden was significantly related to cognitive status, hours spent caregiving, and each HRQOL subscore except physical function. From multiple regression analysis, subscore of HRQOL with respect to mental health and satisfaction with verbal communication were extracted as influential factors. Final regression coefficient was 0.72 (P < 0.01) and coefficient of determination was 0.53. These results suggest that satisfactory mental health status plays an important role in limiting family caregivers’ burden.

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. Questionnaire items for the elderly recipients of care concerned demographic variables, activities of daily living (ADL), and cognitive status. According to bivariate analysis, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was significantly related to basic ADL, communication ADL (CADL), dysphagia risk, and duration of caregiving. From multiple regression analysis, dysphagia risk and CADL were extracted as factors influencing OHRQoL. Assessment of OHRQoL will be useful not only to detect oral health needs but also to evaluate the effect of oral health care in the elderly.

Physical, mental and social factors affecting self-rated verbal communication among elderly individuals

Background:  Satisfactory verbal communication is necessary to improve the quality of life in elderly individuals. However, few studies have directly analyzed the factors that influence the ability to achieve satisfactory verbal communication. The purpose of the present study was to identify the physical, mental and social factors that affect self‐rated verbal communication.

Relationship Between Chewing and Swallowing Functions and Health-Related Quality of Life

Population aging has advanced rapidly in developed countries. In particular, Japan has already become a “Super Aging Society” (MHLW, 2010), and this trend exists in other Asian countries such as South Korea as well (Fig. 1). The increase in life expectancy has led to a decreased ratio between people of working-age and older individuals. At present, the aging problem is most common in developed and mid-developed countries. During the last 6 decades, the types of diseases found in Japan have changed greatly with socio-economic development (Matsuda, 2008). For example, the present major causes of death in Japan are non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as malignant neoplasm, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease (WHO, 2011). With an aging population, the need for geriatric dentistry has increased greatly in Japan. Oral health is important in the elderly; it helps maintain the ability to chew, swallow, and speak clearly, which are important for quality of life (QOL) (Pereira et al., 2006; Sonies et al., 1984).

Development of a Masticatory Indicator Using a Checklist of Chewable Food Items for the Community-Dwelling Elderly

The purpose of the present study was to develop a new assessment scale to evaluate masticatory ability among community-dwelling elderly individuals. The study comprised 761 independent elderly subjects residing in the community. We pooled 25 food items with various textures. Based upon the pass rate and nonresponse rate, we extracted 9 food items to be included in the masticatory ability assessment for the community-dwelling elderly (MACE). The reliability of this assessment was determined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. We then examined the concurrent validity of the MACE by comparing it with an existing method termed “mastication score.” Additionally, the convergent validity was examined by comparing the correlation coefficients of MACE, general oral health assessment index (GOHAI), and the number of teeth. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of MACE was 0.89 (), indicating satisfactory reliability. MACE was significantly correlated with the mastication score (), GOHAI (), and the number of teeth (). These results suggest that MACE is a useful tool with sufficient reliability and validity to identify declines in masticatory ability among community-dwelling elderly individuals.