Mobile instrumental assessment of swallowing in residential aged care homes

Purpose Adults living in residential-aged-care-homes (RACHs) with oropharyngeal dysphagia may not have timely access to instrumental swallowing assessment due to barriers, including the need to travel off-site for assessment. This study describes the feasibility, utility, and acceptability of mobile Flexible-Endoscopic-Swallowing-Assessment (mFEES) in Australian residential-aged-care-homes (RACHs). Method Residents with dysphagia living in RACHs were assessed using onsite mFEES. Feasibility, utility, and acceptability were measured at institutional, resident, and implementation levels. Result Healthcare professionals and medical decision makers reported that mFEES facilitated a better understanding of residents’ swallowing function/dysphagia management and was beneficial over off-site services. Self-rated discomfort during mFEES was low and most residents presented with no or minimal anxiety about the procedure. Costs of mobile assessments are documented. Conclusion mFEES was a safe, well tolerated, and practical service that offered opportunity to enhance person-centered clinical care in older adults living with dysphagia in RACHs.