Oral care is an important part of Activities of Daily Living which should not be taken lightly.
Assisted living facilities and care homes offer a range of services, one of them is personal care.
While Activities of Daily Living (ADL) includes many services however some of the important personal care elements which offers support with, are: bathing, grooming, brushing, feeding and toilet assistance.
Mouth Care plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of older people. Since many seniors are dependent upon caregivers to maintain their personal wellness, hence it is important that they are aware of the care standards and guidelines.
As per the attached resource document, Mouth Care by Clinical Skills Ltd, Oral care is one of the most fundamental aspects of nursing care. Poor oral hygiene impacts upon the health, comfort and well-being of senior citizens in health and medical care settings and in the community.
Poor oral care can lead to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, dry mouth, dental caries etc. Elders with these problems may find it painful to chew, swallow or taste their food.
They may also be unable to communicate effectively, which may contribute to low self-confidence and self-esteem.
Advances in oral health care in the last decade have resulted in people retaining their teeth into older age but not necessarily caring for them.
Oral care may be one part of the care service delivery yet it is one of the most important part of the care process.
Very few private sector care homes and senior living facilities have some sort of training procedures on caregiving and unfortunately most care homes and home care agencies do not have the bandwidth or qualified staff who can deliver standardized care.
The document can be downloaded here (Mouth Care for Older People) or can be viewed below