Good oral health is crucial to meeting fundamental human needs such as comfort, nutrition, communication and acceptable personal appearance. It is recognised however, that provision of oral care is a neglected area of practice. For example, there are few assessment tools that focus on the specific oral health needs of dependent older people. In developing this best practice statement, the expert and project team brought together the existing evidence to underpin daily and continuing care of the mouth and teeth for dependent older people.
The best practice statement is intended to serve primarily as a guide to good practice and promote a consistent and cohesive approach to care. Its purpose is to offer evidence-based nursing guidance for oral health care. In particular, the care of dependent older people admitted to hospital or living in a care home will be informed by this best practice statement.
The statement is intended to be realistic but stretching, and can be used in a variety of ways, including:
- as a basis for developing and improving the care that nurses give to older people
- to stimulate learning among teams of nurses
- to promote effective interdisciplinary teamworking
- to determine whether a quality service is being provided
- to stimulate ideas and priorities for nursing research.
This best practice statement has been produced by NHS QIS in conjunction with:
- Gerontological Nursing Demonstration Project research team (Glasgow Caledonian University)
- Scottish Gerontological Nursing Community of Practice
- staff of Middleton Hall, Glasgow
- Ashbourne Healthcare, and Ward 19
- Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Greater Glasgow.