Oral health of the elderly in institutions
Namukasa, Sylivia (2014)
Namukasa, Sylivia
Arcada - Nylands svenska yrkeshögskola
2014
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405229336
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405229336
Tiivistelmä
Abstract:
Aim: To explore ways on how oral health of the elderly living in institutions could be improved.
Research questions were formulated to guide the research process in order to achieve the objective of the study as follows:
1. What are the consequences of neglected oral health of the elderly in institutions
2. What interventions are needed to promote oral health of the elderly?
The theoretical framework used is Oral Health promotion theory comprising health promotion concepts developed during the OTTAWA Charter Conference in 1986 (WHO, 1986).
Method: The study was a literature review and content analysis was the method used to analyse the articles. Eleven scientific and peer reviewed articles were analysed in order to get the results of the research study.
Results showed that oral health for the elderly is still poor and neglected especially in institutions. This is due to caregivers’ inadequate education and lack of continuous training, caregiver’s negative attitudes and perceptions, lack of time, limited access to oral services including oral examinations and oral assessments, lack of cooperation and behavioral problems hence resulting in oral diseases, other related diseases, oral pains, malnutrition, disability and frailty. All these consequences impact negatively on quality of life of the elderly and their wellbeing. However strategic measures to promote oral health of the elderly were suggested. These included the need to educate caregivers in oral health issues, integration of oral health education in nursing schools, increase access to oral services, effective use of oral hygiene care practices and regular collaboration between caregivers and oral health professionals as well as enhance self-oral care management.
Conclusion: Maintaining good oral health of the elderly in institutions is still a major challenge for caregivers mainly due to lack of oral health education. However it is important to enhance and promote oral health of the elderly through use of recommended strategic interventions so as to guarantee the elderly with good oral health and hence enhance their quality of life and wellbeing.
Aim: To explore ways on how oral health of the elderly living in institutions could be improved.
Research questions were formulated to guide the research process in order to achieve the objective of the study as follows:
1. What are the consequences of neglected oral health of the elderly in institutions
2. What interventions are needed to promote oral health of the elderly?
The theoretical framework used is Oral Health promotion theory comprising health promotion concepts developed during the OTTAWA Charter Conference in 1986 (WHO, 1986).
Method: The study was a literature review and content analysis was the method used to analyse the articles. Eleven scientific and peer reviewed articles were analysed in order to get the results of the research study.
Results showed that oral health for the elderly is still poor and neglected especially in institutions. This is due to caregivers’ inadequate education and lack of continuous training, caregiver’s negative attitudes and perceptions, lack of time, limited access to oral services including oral examinations and oral assessments, lack of cooperation and behavioral problems hence resulting in oral diseases, other related diseases, oral pains, malnutrition, disability and frailty. All these consequences impact negatively on quality of life of the elderly and their wellbeing. However strategic measures to promote oral health of the elderly were suggested. These included the need to educate caregivers in oral health issues, integration of oral health education in nursing schools, increase access to oral services, effective use of oral hygiene care practices and regular collaboration between caregivers and oral health professionals as well as enhance self-oral care management.
Conclusion: Maintaining good oral health of the elderly in institutions is still a major challenge for caregivers mainly due to lack of oral health education. However it is important to enhance and promote oral health of the elderly through use of recommended strategic interventions so as to guarantee the elderly with good oral health and hence enhance their quality of life and wellbeing.