Elderly care

As a profession, we need to have an awareness of issues surrounding consent, of the legal rules, our safeguarding role as well as competently drilling and filling teeth! I think the role of the dental nurse is never more important than when caring for an elderly patient. In a time of an ageing population, where people now keep their teeth for longer and often enjoy a longer life, this brings with it some issues; often, including a list of medication that has such complex names I am sure it is just to test my spelling! They may have chronic illnesses, frailty or suffer from some form of dementia. Many of our older patients appear fitter than me, and good on them, but for others life can be more challenging.