DT News - UK - New initiative aims to improve oral health of care home residents

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 7 May 2015

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LONDON, UK: Several studies have found that the oral health of care home residents is often poor and that in many cases carers have not received specific training to help residents with their daily oral hygiene routine. This problem is now being tackled in a new British health initiative that was recently launched by Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex, supported by research from the University of Greenwich’s Centre for Positive Ageing.

It is predicted that by 2020, around 20 per cent of the UK population will be aged 65 years or older. With increasing age, many people have to face a deterioration in physical and cognitive abilities and often need care.

The Improving Oral Health of Older Persons Initiative aims to improve oral health and quality of life for older people living in residential care homes in Kent, Surrey and Sussex through education and training of care home staff. “By helping to raise awareness of the importance of good oral health, both for quality of life and for general health, and by introducing oral health training for carers within this community, we aim to establish a sustainable quality standard for the oral healthcare of older persons,” the initiative stated.

In order to implement its measures, the initiative builds on research into the experiences of older patients and their carers by Dr Paul Newton, a research fellow at the Centre for Positive Ageing. Newton is an expert in patient empowerment and the management of chronic conditions. His work for the initiative has led to new training methods and information for carers of people living with dementia.

“Research about identifying and managing dental pain and oral health problems for people living with dementia was lacking—both in the literature and in previous initiatives,” Newton said. “We have worked closely with the Older Person’s Initiative to make sure the oral health needs of this vulnerable group are addressed.”

Problems with teeth, gums and dentures can significantly affect the overall well-being of an older person and his or her quality of life. There is a range of oral health challenges for elderly people, including loosening teeth, dry mouth and difficulty with eating and using a toothbrush. These in turn can lead to poor nutrition, low self-esteem, social isolation and the exacerbation of other conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex is a local education and training board, authorised as a sub-committee of Health Education England. It was established in April 2013, when it took on the functions of the old Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery, and aims to ensure that health care providers across the region have suitable staff with the necessary skills.

The Centre for Positive Ageing, based in the university’s Faculty of Education and Health, brings together 12 research clusters from across the university. It aims to understand and develop solutions to the problems facing individuals, like chronic pain and dementia, as well as those confronting society, such as meeting the care needs of a growing older population.

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