-Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital(Managed by Kaohsiung Medical University)-
To reduce disparities in healthcare access between urban and rural areas and safeguard the oral health and chewing and swallowing functions of older adults in Indigenous communities, the Center for Chewing and Swallowing Function Reconstruction at Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital (KMSH) visited the Masihhalan Cultural Health Station in Namaxia District, Kaohsiung City, to provide oral function and chewing and swallowing disorder screenings for local older adults.
By bringing professional healthcare services directly into the community, the initiative aims to provide older adults with comprehensive care in a familiar environment through early screening, health education, and preventive interventions.
The multidisciplinary healthcare team included dentists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, and dental technicians, who worked together to provide integrated care. During the event, oral hygiene conditions were assessed using oral plaque-disclosing tools, followed by oral health education provided by nursing staff. Dentists conducted oral health examinations, while dental technicians assisted participants with the cleaning and maintenance of removable dentures and other dental prostheses.
Speech-language pathologists also guided participants through Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) exercises designed to strengthen swallowing-related muscles. Each participant received a CTAR ball to take home, allowing them to continue practicing independently. By incorporating swallowing exercises into everyday routines, the program aims to gradually improve swallowing muscle strength and promote safer eating.
As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, chewing and swallowing disorders have become an increasingly important health concern among older adults. Located in a mountainous area, Namaxia presents geographical challenges that often require older residents to spend considerable time traveling to and from medical facilities. In addition, symptoms such as eating slowly or frequent coughing and choking during meals are sometimes regarded simply as a natural part of aging, which may cause early warning signs of declining chewing and swallowing function to be overlooked.
Through early screening and multidisciplinary intervention, potential health risks associated with chewing and swallowing difficulties—including malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia—can be identified and addressed at an earlier stage.
Dr. Ming-Chu Feng, Vice Superintendent of Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, emphasized that access to health should not be determined by where a person lives.
“Older adults in Indigenous communities need more than one-time medical services; they need continuous health support and companionship. By bringing multidisciplinary healthcare teams directly into Indigenous communities, we hope to establish early screening and referral mechanisms for oral health and swallowing function, ensuring that medical resources truly reach the people and communities that need them most,” Dr. Feng said.
Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital stated that it will continue working with Indigenous cultural health stations and community-based care centers to regularly promote oral healthcare, swallowing health, and home-based self-training programs.
By extending preventive healthcare beyond the hospital and into communities and Indigenous villages, KMSH hopes to support older adults in enjoying every meal safely and confidently, ultimately realizing the vision of healthy aging in which every older adult can “eat well, swallow safely, and dine with dignity.”
