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Oral care for residents September 2006- The issue of oral health for residents of long-term care homes has long been a concern for residents and their families. Concerned Friends has heard many stories of lost dentures, complaints of dentures not removed and cleaned properly, and even a situation where a partial plate was swallowed, with serious consequences. The following Principles of Oral Health for Resident Care by Patricia Spencer Dip DH, BA, offers a solution that Concerned Friends strongly endorses. The present reality is that a full program of professional oral care services funded by the government will not be forthcoming in the foreseeable future. How can conscientious facility administration and caregivers ensure that daily oral care is not overlooked or neglected? Recognizing that oral infections can have a similar negative impact on the health of the resident as other infections circulating in the body in the same bloodstream, daily oral care must receive equal priority. How can this be done? A strong statement of the importance of the facility's standard regarding oral care using Principles of Resident Oral Care will assist in achieving this goal. 1. Maintaining optimal health including oral health is a primary responsibility of this facility and its staff. 2. Every resident has a right to a clean and healthy mouth free from infection, disease and food debris. 3. Every resident requires regular daily oral care. If unable to provide self-care, staff will ensure that daily oral care is provided. 4. Every resident shall be given the option of oral care services from the service provider of their choice where possible. 5. There shall be a daily program of oral care for residents. Where a staff caregiver is providing oral care, it shall be the responsibility of staff to check for missing, loose or broken dentures, sores or bleeding in the mouth, and cracks in the corner of the mouth. Any areas of concern must be reported to the unit supervisor. For those residents who are able to perform self-care upon admission, it is important to monitor for any loss of interest, loss of strength or ability to maintain oral care and to implement staff assisted care. 6. This shall be the policy regarding dropped or lost dentures. Any dentures that are dropped or found by any member of the staff, including housekeeping, dietary, etc., must be reported to the unit supervisor. Before the denture is returned to the resident, it must be thoroughly checked and cleansed. If a history of misplaced or lost dentures is noted, this must be reported to the unit supervisor. The denture may no longer fit properly, cause pain or the resident may no longer be able to tolerate the use of the denture. Be aware that a denture can be swallowed if it is caught in the resident's throat. Regular monitoring of resident oral health by an on-site dental hygienist can assist staff in complying with these principles. |