Interdisciplinary monitoring of frail elderly

Abstract

The objective of this study is the interdisciplinary monitory of frail elderly from the geriatric ward of Sao Paulo Hospital – UNIFESP –EPM. It is thought that such monitoring can show alteration in deglutition, possibly leading to a problem of underfeeding and/or aspiration. An interdisciplinary team consisting of a physician, a physiotherapist, a speech therapist, a nutritionist and social welfare workers, through specific rules, attended upon the subjects. From the middle of April to late October 1996, 53 patients between 65 and 95 years old were attended upon. The average period of hospitalization was 19 days. By the end of the period of hospitalization, 17 people were dead and 36 were discharged from the hospital. Among these 36, 14 went to the infirmary and were examined by the physician, the speech therapist and the nutritionist. Among these 14, 5 did not show any alteration in deglutition and /or aspiration; 6 did not need help from the speech therapist, maintaining the oral diet (2 were unfed and 4 were eutrophics); and the last three (1 unfed and 2 eutrophics) received tube feeding. No direct relation was found between the weak elders and the absence of alteration in deglutition, but when they were observed, the interdisciplinary interference led to the improvement of the patient.