A concept analysis of oral hygiene care in dependent older adults (2025)

(Lack of) oral hygiene care for hospitalized elderly patients

2021

OBJECTIVE to analyze the oral hygiene care for hospitalized elderly patients provided by the nursing staff. METHOD this is a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study carried out in a university hospital, with the participation of 35 professionals from the nursing staff. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews, explored through thematic content analysis. RESULTS two categories emerged: The oral hygiene of hospitalized elderly patients as an extension of body care and Barriers in (lack of) care with the oral hygiene of hospitalized elderly patients, with two subcategories: The oral hygiene and dental prosthesis technique performed divergently; Care hampered by deficit of materials and human resources. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS this study showed weaknesses in the oral hygiene care of hospitalized elderly patients, promoting reflections on the practice informed in data and management actions, allowing recommendations of care standards for the nursing staff.

Evaluation of the implementation of an ‘oral hygiene protocol’ in nursing homes: a 5-year longitudinal study

Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 2011

Ageing of the population is a worldwide concern, owing to the growing number of elderly people with disabilities as a result of comorbidity. During the last years of their lives, many elders suffer from physical, psychological and cognitive complaints (compression of morbidity). In Flanders (Belgium), about 65 000 persons (15%) older than 75 reside in long-term care institutions and 80 000 (20%) receive home supportive domiciliary care. Based on data reported in 1999, 40% of these residents have a low or moderate scale of functional dependency, with 60% nearly totally or totally dependent (1). It is well known that elderly people, especially those residing in long-term care facilities, have a high risk of oral disease, which directly influences their quality of life and lifestyle. The negative impact of poor oral health on general health and quality of life in older adults is an important public health issue

Long-term effect of an oral healthcare programme on oral hygiene in a nursing home

European Journal of Oral Sciences, 2009

Observations of oral hygiene care interventions provided by nurses to hospitalized older people

Geriatric Nursing, 2017

Dependent older hospitalized patients rely on nurses to assist them with the removal of plaque from their teeth, dentures, and oral cavities. Oral care interventions by 25 nurses on post-acute units, where patients have longer hospital stays, were observed during evening care. In addition to efforts to engage patients in oral care, nurses provided the following interventions: (a) supporting the care of persons with dentures; (b) supporting the care of natural teeth; (c) cleansing the tongue and oral cavity; and (d) moisturizing lips and oral tissues. Patients' oral hygiene care was supported in just over one-third of encounters. Denture care was inconsistently performed, and was infrequently followed by care of the oral cavity. Nurses did not encourage adequate self-care of natural teeth by patients, and infrequently moisturized tissues. Evidence-based oral hygiene care standards are required to assist nurses to support patients in achieving optimal oral hygiene outcomes.

A Survey of Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Oral Hygiene Among Staff at a Geriatric Nursing Home

Geriatric Nursing, 2010

Factors Affecting Older Persons’ Ability to Manage Oral Hygiene: A Qualitative Study

JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 2017

A great challenge for the dental service is to support the growing group of elderly people with preserving good oral health throughout their lives. Limitations in the ability to manage oral hygiene and an increased number of risk factors are often reflected by poor oral health. Thus, the need for individualized support and oral health procedures based on the older person’s condition is significant. Deficiencies in the motor skills needed to manage oral hygiene are well known, but other factors that affect the ability are not well studied. The aim of the present study was to identify factors that may affect an elderly person’s ability to perform oral hygiene self-care, which is the first step to develop a more comprehensive “oral hygiene ability index.” The design of the study was qualitative. Data were collected from 4 focus group interviews with a total of 23 participants. Three of the groups consisted of dental hygienists, occupational therapists, and assistant nurses, all working...

Dental hygiene education for nursing staff in a nursing home for older people

Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2010

Title. Dental hygiene education for nursing staff in a nursing home for older people. Aim. This paper is a report of a study evaluating the effect of a repeated education programme for nursing staff in a home for older people. Background. A strong relationship exists between oral infections and general health complications (especially aspiration pneumonia) among nursing home residents and hospitalized older people. Thus, nursing staff need to be educated in oral hygiene measures. Methods. Forty-three nursing home resident older people (12 men, 31 women, age range 69-99 years) were included in a dental hygiene and gingivitis evaluation using gingival bleeding scores and modified plaque scores. Evaluation was conducted before and 3 weeks after a repeated dental hygiene education for nursing staff at a nursing home in Sweden in 2008. Dental hygiene education had been given 1AE5 years previously. Findings. Forty-one residents (12 men and 29 women) were available for evaluation after the repeated dental hygiene education (one died, one had had teeth extracted). There was a reduction in gingival bleeding scores (P < 0AE001), and in plaque scores (P < 0AE001). Conclusion. Repeated dental hygiene education improves the dental hygiene among nursing home resident older people. In order to succeed it may be necessary to address attitudes and perceptions towards oral care in such a dental hygiene education programme for nursing staff. Improved oral hygiene contributes to reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated pneumonia among nursing home resident older people, and thus to reduced healthcare costs.

Oral hygiene of elderly people in long-term care institutions ? a cross-sectional study

Gerodontology, 2006

Oral hygiene of elderly people in long-term care institutions -a cross-sectional study Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the level of oral hygiene in elderly people living in long-term care institutions and to investigate the relationship between institutional and individual characteristics, and the observed oral cleanliness. Materials and methods: Clinical outcome variables, denture plaque and dental plaque were gathered from 359 older people (14%) living in 19 nursing homes. Additional data were collected by a questionnaire filled out by all health care workers employed in the nursing homes. Results: Only 128 (36%) residents had teeth present in one or both dental arches. About half of the residents (47%) wore complete dentures. The mean dental plaque score was 2.17 (maximum possible score ¼ 3) and the mean denture plaque score was 2.13 (maximum possible score ¼ 4). Significantly more plaque was observed on the mucosal surface of the denture with a mean plaque score of 2.33 vs. 1.93 on the buccal surface (p < 0.001). In the multiple analyses only the degree of dependency on an individual level was found to be significantly correlated with the outcome dental plaque (odds ratio: 3.09) and only the management of the institution with denture plaque (odds ratio: 0.43). Conclusion: Oral hygiene was poor, both for dentures and remaining teeth in residents in long-term care institutions and only the degree of dependency of the residents and the management of the institutions was associated with the presence of dental plaque and denture plaque respectively.

Oral hygiene and associated factors among frail older assisted living residents

Special Care in Dentistry, 2012

Oral hygiene and the need for treatment of the dependent institutionalised elderly

Gerodontology, 2006

Oral hygiene and the need for treatment of the dependent institutionalised elderly Objective: To assessing the oral hygiene and treatment needs of a geriatric institution in southern France. Background: For various reasons, the care demand from elderly people is low and difficult to determine, whereas their oral status would need long and complicated treatments. Materials and methods: From 2003 to 2004, a cross-sectional study of 321 elderly patients was conducted at several geriatric services of Montpellier, France. The clinical evaluation of dental status was recorded together with medical information. Dental and prosthetic hygiene, status of dentures, caries experience, dependence conditions and treatment needs were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of edentulism was 27%, with no gender difference (23% of the men and 29% of the women). Among them, 16.7% (upper jaw) and 18.1% (lower jaw) were totally edentulous with no denture. The mean number of decayed and missing teeth was 3.7 for men and 2.8 for women and 21.5 for men and 21.0 for women, respectively. The mean number of filled teeth was 0.8 for men and 1.3 for women, with no statistical difference according to gender for the three indexes. Most of the subjects needed prostheses (53%), 45.1% extractions and 30.6% conservative treatments. Only 2.4% did not need any treatment. Conclusion: The prevalence of edentulism was relatively low, while the need for prosthodontic rehabilitation, especially for men, was still very high. The dental hygiene was globally inadequate. This evaluation emphasises the care demand and the need for help in oral hygiene procedures for the dependent institutionalised elderly.