Researchers have indicated that nursing care, which is mainly based on environmental regulation, can develop competence in feeding on persons afflicted with dementia and concomitant feeding, mastication, and swallowing disorders. Dementia is a syndrome correlated with different types of causes. Presently in Japan, Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause presenting with dementia. Vascular dementia (VaD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) follow. In addition, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is on the rise. The causes and severity of dementia makes a difference in the characteristics of feeding, mastication, and swallowing disorders. The care skills for feeding depending on the severity of AD have been collated, while the care skills as well as the characteristics of feeding, mastication, and swallowing disorders concerning VaD, DLB, and FTD are inadequate.

To support a productive eating habit of the elderly with dementia, the purpose of this research is to develop the essential and effective care skills after the elucidation of the characteristics of feeding, mastication, and swallowing disorders depending on the causes and severity of dementia by a research team composed of nurses, doctors, dentists, dental hygienists, and care workers.