Impact of The Nurses on Maintaining Oral Health in Institutionalized Elderly Volume 3 - Issue 2

Petrovski M*, Papakoca K, Terzieva Petrovska O, Proseva Lj, Arsovski Lj, Atanasova S

• Faculty of medical sciences, Goce Delcev University, Macedonia

Received: May 15, 2021;  Published: June 4, 2021

Corresponding author: Petrovski M, Faculty of medical sciences, Goce Delcev University- Stip, Republic of N. Macedonia

DOI: 10.32474/LOJNHC.2021.03.000156

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Abstract

Dental and oral care are important for institutionalized elderly because oral diseases can have a negative impact not only on quality of life but also on general health. Maintaining adequate oral hygiene among the institutionalized elderly is most important, especially on patients that need help for basic or additional oral and dental care. Most often responsible for maintaining oral hygiene are the persons responsible for long-term care of the institutionalized elderly - nurses and paramedics. The education of stuff responsible for institutionalized elderly includes the usage of appropriate lectures with adequate audiovisual effects, appropriate presentations and exercises and discussions among the participants. For adequate dental care of the institutionalized elderly, it is necessary for the elderly, as well as the staff responsible for their care, to be highly aware and motivated to pay enough attention to oral health and hygiene, as well as wearing dentures. Oral health programs and protocols can also be used to educate institutionalized elderly, as well as non-dental staff caring for the institutionalized elderly such as GPs, nurses, nutritionists, and social workers, to change the approach to oral health and its promotion. When the patient is unable to maintain oral hygiene on his / her own, it is necessary to educate the family members and the staff responsible for them regarding their knowledge and training in maintaining oral hygiene.

Keywords:Institutionalized Elderly; Long Term Care Institution; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene

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