Effects of Caregiver Oral Health Interventions on Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Long-Term Care Facilities

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Health Sciences.Background: An increasing older adult population presents challenges to the health care system at large. Older adults often face comorbidities that accelerate the need for long-term care dependence when the older adult’s physical or cognitive limitations become unmanageable. Long-term care facility residents commonly suffer from poor oral health, which often worsens or is exacerbated by comorbidities. Thus, long-term care facility residents are often victims of oral health disparities whereby poor oral health leads to poor overall health and quality-of-life outcomes. Long-term care facility caregivers play a critical role in sustaining and even improving long-term care residents’ oral health by providing assistance with daily oral health interventions. The purpose of this literature review was to research the effects of caregiver-assisted oral health interventions on long-term care facility residents’ quality of life. Methods: The review of the literature addressed the following topics: (a) geriatric oral health, (b) oral health interventions, (c) quality-of-life outcomes, and (d) caregiver oral health training. Results: A review of the literature demonstrates oral health interventions provided by long-term care facility caregivers as necessary activities of daily living to maintain long-term care facility residents’ oral health. Most importantly, the oral health interventions provided by long-term care facility caregivers have been shown to improve long-term care facility residents’ quality-of-life outcomes. Long-term care facility caregivers are active participants in ensuring the successful aging of long-term care facility residents. Conclusion: Long-term care facility caregivers play a valuable role in decreasing the number of oral health disparities incurred by long-term care facility residents. Long-term caregiver-assisted oral health interventions provided to long-term care facility residents promote the improvement of residents’ quality-of-life outcomes. Daily mouth care is deemed to be an essential activity of daily living that care-dependent long-term care facility residents must receive based upon their individualized care plans