9
Volume1 Issue3
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CDA
at
W
ork
SENIORS
S
eniors, particularly those living in long-
term care (LTC) facilities, face consid-
erable challenges when it comes to
receiving routine dental care. The cost
of dental care prevents many seniors
fromobtaining the treatment theyneed, and for
those living in LTC facilities, there are few, if any,
provincially legislated standards of oral health
care. Moreover, seniors often have unique oral
health care treatment needs ormay require ad-
ditional assistance due to physical or cognitive
disabilities.
Poor oral health care can dramatically affect
quality of life for anyone, but its impact is espe-
cially pronounced in seniors: dental infections,
toothache, partially or completely edentulous
mouths, heavily restored and deteriorating res-
torations can present treatment complications
due to chronic illness, multiple drug therapy,
decreasedmobility andmental acuity.
The issue of seniors’ access to oral health
care is one that will affect a growing
number of people. Statistics Canada
predicts that by 2016, the number of
seniors could exceed the number of
children
(a first in this country) as a re-
sult of low replacement fertility rates,
increase in life expectancy and an ag-
ing baby boom generation. In 2011, 8% of
Canadian seniors were living in institu-
tionalized facilities, such as nursing
homes, chronic care and LTC
facilities, hospitals and seniors’
residences.However, this fig-
ure will likely increase as
the Canadian population
ages.
Although seniors’ oral health care is generally
considered a provincial responsibility, Veterans
Affairs Canada (VAC) plays a vital role in provid-
ing care for a segment of Canadian seniors. Ap-
proximately 8500 veterans are cared for in LTC
facilities across Canada, including in about 170
facilities contracted by VAC to provide priority
access to veterans. With this level of influence,
VAC is well positioned to improve seniors’ oral
health through their contract specificationswith
LTC facilities.
CDA is recommending that all LTC facilities, in-
cluding those contracted by VAC, meet the fol-
lowingminimum standards of oral health care:
an oral health screening on admission, an an-
nual oral exam by a dentist, a dailymouth care
plan and suitable infrastructure to support the
appropriate and timely delivery of dental care
. These recommendations, as they
pertain to veterans in LTC, were raised in policy
discussions at CDA’s annual Days on the Hill
event
) where the initiative was very
well received by the Members of Parliament,
Senators and senior bureaucrats whomet with
members of theCDAdelegation.
Canadian dentistry needs to act now to ensure
that seniors in LTC facilities, including Canadian
veterans, receive the oral care they need and so
rightly deserve. Talk to your Members of Parlia-
ment, provincial politicians or provincial dental
association about theneed forminimum stand-
ards of oral health care in all LTC facilities.
a
GaryMacDonald,dds
Improving theOralHealth of
From thePresident
