Oral Health Care Interventions by Functional Status Among Older Adults in a Nursing Home and Day Care Centre: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of professional oral health care programmes tailored to functional status, which was classified by activities of daily living scores among older adults in a nursing home and day care centre.

METHODS

Older adults in a nursing home and day care centre were assessed for activities of daily living and divided into those with a score of ≤ 14 (n = 21) and those with a score of ≥ 15 (n = 32). Each group received a tailored programme over 4 to 6 weeks. The tongue coating index, halitosis, oral hygiene maintenance status, tongue pressure, and oral moisture were assessed before and after the intervention, and satisfaction was assessed thereafter.

RESULTS

General characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups. In both groups, the tongue coating index decreased significantly after the intervention, from 6.00 to 3.62 in the group with scores of ≤ 14 and from 5.07 to 3.54 in the group with scores of ≥ 15 (p < 0.05). Oral hygiene maintenance status also improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.05). Halitosis, tongue pressure, and oral moisture showed no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONS

A professional oral health care programme tailored to functional status may improve oral hygiene in older adults in nursing homes and day care centres. Long-term, systematic programmes are needed to support oral health management in this vulnerable population.