Cognitive Decline and Oral Health

Older individuals with cognitive decline often have age-related conditions and depend on caregivers for their normal day-to-day activities, including mouth care. Disability, dependency on caregivers, inadequate mouth care, and lack of access to dental care services can increase their risk for oral diseases that cause pain and increase their suffering.

This study will enable us to make recommendations for policy change and design targeted future interventions such as health promotion resources and policy recommendations to address the oral care needs of individuals with dementia. These interventions will include the voices of care providers, caregivers, care recipients (when possible), and substitute decision-makers.