熟練介助者が関わった時の認知症高齢者の食事行動の分析—マイクロ分析を用いて

Eating behavior of the elderly with dementia in the company of an expert caregiver : A micro analytic approach

要旨：熟練介助者が関わった時の認知症高齢者の食事行動を明らかにすることを目的に，マイクロ分析の手法を用いて分析した．認知症高齢者の食べる動作の持続性，食べる動作が中断した時の動作の種類，食べる動作の中断と発生要因に加え，表情についても発現と要因を示した．食べる動作の中断と表情の発現は，聴覚刺激によるものが主な要因であった．しかし食事行動は熟練者の関わりによって継続していた．表情の発現の検討から認知症高齢者が食事時間中も不安な状態にあると推察されたが，熟練者の関わりにより安心を得ていると思われた．今回の結果は今後，認知症高齢者の食事場面における関わり方を検討していくうえでの重要な手がかりになると考える．

　The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of a caregiver's approach to dealing with elderly with dementia at mealtime. Using micro analysis, eating behavior in an elderly woman with dementia was observed in the company of an expert caregiver.

　The results illuminated the movements and related factors associated with eating behavior, including continuation and cessation of eating. The patient's facial expression was found to be a factor affecting eating behavior.

　An auditory stimulus was the main factor influencing the patient's expression and the continuation of her eating behavior. However, her eating behavior was also positively affected by the interaction with the expert caregiver. Although the subject appeared uneasy during the study, she seemed to feel reassured by the expert.

　As a result, it seems that it is beneficial to examine the caregivers' relationship with the elderly with dementia at mealtime in the future.