Özet:

It is estimated that elderly individuals will constitute 25% of the population in developed countries by 2050. Along with the physiology of aging, dysphagia can emerge as an important health problem in elderly individuals. Dysphagia is swallowing difficulty that may result from neuromuscular disorder or mechanical obstruction. It also brings many complications such as malnutrition, dehydration and aspiration pneumonia. Recently, there has been increasing awareness of the recognition of dysphagia as a geriatric syndrome. Dysphagia in the elderly may go unnoticed as it is considered a normal part of aging. In this case, it leads to the progression of the disease and to its complications. Accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary approach for dysphagia bring success in treatment. There is no standard approach for the treatment of dysphagia in the elderly. Dysphagia treatments include posture adjustments, nutrient and fluid ratio-amount, diet change, oral health, swallowing rehabilitation, and other approaches such as pharmacological treatment. The use of tissue modified diets is recommended for nutrition in dysphagia. The International Dysphagia Dietary Standardization Initiative was established to define tissue-modified foods and thickened fluids used for all care settings and by individuals of all ages with dysphagia. Some guidelines have nutritional recommendations for patients with dysphagia. However, since there is no certainness for nutrition in dysphagia, this review study was planned and conducted to present information on geriatric dysphagia and nutritional therapy.

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