The sucking behaviour of two patients in the final stage of dementia of the Alzheimer type.
Two patients in the final stage of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), who could no longer be given nutrition by assisted feeding, were given fluids by means of the sucking ability they still retained. They sucked more slowly under nutritive than under non-nutritive sucking conditions. The sucking efficiency of one of them improved during training. The status of the patients in the final stage of their dementia differed from one another, which might explain the difference in outcome. It is therefore suggested, that the use of the patients' sucking ability could serve as a complement and/or an alternative feeding technique when assisted spoon-feeding becomes extremely difficult or impossible. It is considered to be more gentle and natural than the present feeding techniques.
Asplund
K
K
Norberg
A
A
Adolfsson
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D013391:Sucking Behavior