DENTAL SCREENING FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS: A NATIONAL PROMISING PRACTICE. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schroeder, S; Fix, N
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 436
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1636
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: In the U.S. there were 1.4 million nursing home residents in 2014; 84.5% were 65 years of age or older. Only 62.7% of people 65 years of age or older visited a dentist in 2015. A survey conducted in North Dakota identified that, although required by law, 28% of long term care facilities self-reported they did not conduct dental assessments upon admission of new residents. When there was a dental assessment, 90% were completed by someone outside of the dental field, primarily completed by a charge nurse (42%) or other registered nurse (15%). Recognizing the need, and the lack of national standards on the topic, researchers worked with state and national partners to develop a promising practice for screening residents' dental needs upon admission to nursing homes. This presentation will address the need for oral health screens and preventative services among nursing home residents while focusing on the newly developed dental screening tool. This template is an effort to ensure that all nursing home residents, upon admission, have dental screenings completed by dental professionals. This screen then informs a resident's daily plan of care for oral hygiene. The tool was developed utilizing international research on existing assessments and through review of federal regulations, state requirements, and both private and public insurance coverage of dental services for nursing home residents. Researchers also employed focus groups which consisted of nursing home administrators, dentists, dental hygienists, the Department of Health Oral Health Program, and a representative of the state Medicaid office (among others).