Case Study Analysis: Implementing Oral Health Programs for Elderly

This case study analyzes an oral health promotion program designed for elderly individuals in a residential care setting. It addresses the characteristics of the target group, emphasizing the increased dental care needs of older adults and the importance of integrating oral health into overall health promotion. The study outlines the aims and objectives of the program, which include providing age, culture, and gender-appropriate resources and shifting from a curative to a preventive model of care. The organization of delivery involves educating older adults and staff, providing necessary resources, and integrating information from relevant health departments. The program's delivery style includes utilizing various resources like public dental programs, community dental programs, and specialist dental care, with a focus on community engagement and the use of health promotion materials. The plan of the program incorporates strategies like promoting healthy diets, providing access to safe drinking water, and establishing oral health facilities. Evaluation and review strategies involve continuous monitoring of oral hygiene, dietary habits, and overall health, along with staff education and the incorporation of clinical prevention and community actions. The case study emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation based on feedback and recommendations.

Running head: CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
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Case Study 2
• Characteristics of the target group- The older adults are more in dental care needs rather than
other age groups. Oral health promotion plan should promote the overall health among the
elderly patients through integrated heath prevention and age friendly primary health care1. Oral
health research should not be focused solely on biomedical and clinical aspects of oral health
care; public health research, in particular in developing countries, must be strengthened. Since,
oral health disease is the fourth most expensive disease to treat, therefore, healthcare systems
must be established which will offer people curative facilities1. The older people should be
monitored whether they are into a strict diet plan or not and a proper diet plan must be included
in their care since an unhealthy diet can be a risk factor in the development of several chronic
diseases and are associated with oral diseases. The dentistry plays an important role in diagnosis
of any oral diseases that are related to diet2. A proper diet plan and nutritional guidelines are
required to improve oral health of the target population. Dietary advice should be a part of the
routine checkupin elderly patients to prevent oral disease by incorporating a healthy diet plan as
the part of healthcare.
• Aims and objectives of program-Oral health resources and programs must be provided that are
appropriate for age, culture, and gender, including the promotion of oral health for older people
1Petersen H, "Promoting Oral Health And Quality Of Life Of Older People - The Need For
Public Health Action. - Pubmed - NCBI", Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov (Webpage, 2019)
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29736489>.
2Kaur S, Nain JK. International Journal of Research in Health and Allied Sciences.

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in evaluations and health plans. Oral health promotion programs must be implemented based on
evidence with high-risk groups. It requires the transformation of oral health systems from a
curative model based on disease into the prevention of diseases and the implementation of
integrated care focused on older people.
• Organization of delivery-
o Make the older adults aware of the importance maintaining oral health and how the
program will be implemented.
o Communicate with the older adults and the staffs about the importance of health
promotion plan along with the strategies needed to implement the same.
o Provide oral health resources and programs that are appropriate for age, culture, and
gender, including the promotion of oral health for older people in evaluations and health
plans.
o Implement oral health promotion programs based on evidence with high-risk groups.
o Integrate information from the Department of Health and Ageing requirements for Oral
Health Care for aged care residents.
• Delivery style, resources, and materials: Health promotion materials for older adults-
Public Dental programs, Community Dental Program, Specialist Dental Care and through
Domiciliary Services and Work with primary care and other facilities to integrate oral health
promotion operations and messages. Provide suitable oral health funds and programs, based on
age, society and gender, including advancement of oral health in evaluations and elderly people's
healthcare schemes. Continue to work with community groups to create understanding and
abilities at the local and network stages such as the national oral health consortia, local

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authorities, dental and primary care suppliers. Expand connections via the Better Health
Channels to oral health information and services.
• Plan of the program- The program will be implemented in all residential care of older
patients and targeted at preventing oral problem and promote oral health of the older people.
Following action plans are:
o According to the World Health Organization's global strategy on diet, physical activity
and health, reduction of malnutrition, an advancement of healthy diets, especially reduced
sugar consumption and enhanced fruit and vegetable consumption3.
o Provision of access to safe drinking water, overall hygiene and improved dental health
sanitation.
o Oral health facilities, varying from the prevention, early diagnosis and operation to
therapy and rehabilitation and the maintenance of population oral health issues, should be
established in accordance with the requirements and accessible funds.
o Establish national plans on fluoride use, based on the necessary automatic fluoride
management programs through drinking water, salt, or milk or fluoride usage such as
affordable fluoride toothpaste. Salt fluoridation programs should be associated with
iodination systems.
o Oral cavity and oral pre-cancer prevention by involving oral health experts or qualified
primary care experts in the testing, early diagnosis and care referral, and suitable action
against the risk of tobacco consumption and exaggerated alcohol consumption.
3Poul Erik Petersen, "Strengthening Of Oral Health Systems: Oral Health Through Primary
Health Care" (2014) 23(1) Medical Principles and Practice.

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o Prohibition of oral and other illnesses linked to the use of tobacco (smoking and
consuming other tobacco products), incorporating professional oral health personnel in
cessation programmes, and discouraging the adoption of tobacco habits among children
and elderly individuals.
o Provide appropriate training to promote a model of treatment for all dental group
participants as oral health advocates in undergraduate and postgraduate settings.
o Developing partnerships and oral wellness support environments in the personal and
public dentistry sector, in government and local government planning, and also in a
variety of settings, such as colleges and early childhood facilities, health services,
residential aged care and disability settings.
o Developing a healthy eating checklist to be used by staff when planning a program and
engaging them in healthy food habits.
o To incorporate in their meal nutritious food that will not affect their oral health instead
promote their oral as well the overall health of the older adults.
• Evaluation and review strategy be followed in the program- An effective monitoring is
required on how the plan can be implemented. The staff should monitor and maintain oral
hygiene among the older adults. Diet should be maintained in order to promote oral health and
the overall health of the older adults4. They should take note on the food habits and diet plan for
the older patients and avoid excess sugar consumption or consumption of any food items that
will have an adverse effect on the health of the elder adults. There is a strong need of education
among the health staffs and old aged people on the factors that triggers the occurrence of both
4K M Sameer P Abdul Razak, "Geriatric Oral Health: A Review Article", Pubmed Central
(PMC) (Webpage, 2019) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4295446/>.

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oral health problems as well as affects the overall health status of the old aged people. Along
with monitoring healthy practices on diet and other factors contributing to upholding an
improved health outcome of the older people, the factors that should also be considered as
essential elements to promote oral health of the older people includes clinical prevention, for
example, immunization, community actions like support groups, environmental change, proving
a safe environment, healthy diet involving highly nutritious foods that will be both good for oral
health as well as the overall health of the adults. The organizations should incorporate into
themselves the necessary recommendations and any further improvements they think is required
for the betterment of the older aged people’s health.

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References:
1. Petersen H, "Promoting Oral Health And Quality Of Life Of Older People - The Need
For Public Health Action. - Pubmed - NCBI", Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov (Webpage, 2019)
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29736489>.
2. Kaur S, Nain JK. International Journal of Research in Health and Allied Sciences.
3. Poul Erik Petersen, "Strengthening Of Oral Health Systems: Oral Health Through
Primary Health Care" (2014) 23(1) Medical Principles and Practice.
4. K M Sameer P Abdul Razak, "Geriatric Oral Health: A Review Article", Pubmed Central
(PMC) (Webpage, 2019) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4295446/>.