ASSESSMENT OF ORAL HEALTH STATUS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ELDERLY HOMES

Abstract

Oral health is considered a basic need and an essential part of overall health throughout life. Maintenance of oral health is fundamental to prevent the development and progress of any oral and systemic diseases, to achieve the highest level of physical, mental, and social well-being, to enhance self-esteem, and life satisfaction, as well as, to attain successful. ageing, thereby significantly contributing to the better quality of life. Factors affecting the elders' oral health status are multidimensional and interrelated. Age-related changes in the oral cavity, level of education, income, psychosocial status, life style pattern, use of medications, presence of chronic diseases, all can greatly influence the maintenance of the elders' oral health. The prevalence of oral health problems are extremely common in advanced age particularly, pronounced in institutionalized and \ dependent elders in whom oral care have declined or neglected compared with other daily self-care behaviors. Therefore, the gerontological nurses have the challenges to meet the oral health care needs for the residents of elderly homes through regular screening of the oral cavity and the correction of all myths concerning the elders' oral health. The aim of this study is to assess the oral health status for the residents of elderly homes in Alexandria. The study was carried out in all the six governmental elderly homes in Alexandria (Dar El-Saada, Dar EI-Hana, Dar EI-Hedaya, Dar El-Regal, Dar EI-Hanan, and Dar Om El­ Nour). The subjects comprised of all residents of these settings, and their number amounted to 238 residents aged 60 years and above. Data collection started from June to the end of August 2004. Data was collected using: 1) Structured interview sheet, which was used to collect data about personal characteristics of the elders, their medical conditions, type of medication used, life style pattern related to oral health status such as dietary, and smoking habits, oral and denture hygiene practices, and oral follow-up pattern. 2) Kayser-Jones Brief Oral Health Status Examination, which was used to assess the oral health status of the elders in the institutional settings in order to identifY those conditions that require immediate referral to the dentist. 3) Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, which was used to assess the elders' •. physical and psychosocial function that accompanied with oral health related problems. The statistical package for social science "SPSS" was utilized for data analysis and tabulation. The level of significance selected for this study was being equal or less than 0.05 levels.