Oral care for older people in residential care

Dependent elderly people are often unable to carry out daily care, including oral care, on their own and are likely to experience problems should the care they receive be inadequate (Dormenval, 1995; Mojon, 1997). Oral problems are common in older people in residential care homes (Frenkel et al, 1999) and can have a negative impact on general health and quality of life (McGrath and Bedi, 1999). Unfortunately, the level of oral care provided in care homes has frequently been described as substandard (Coleman and Watson, 2006; Sweeney et al, 2007).

This article overviews the most common oral problems experienced by older people in residential care settings, and provides guidance on developing a basic assessment tool and daily protocol for oral care.