Improving Oral Health Among Texas Nursing Home Residents
Multiple studies acknowledge that poor oral hygiene and lack of routine dental care can contribute to respiratory infections and other systemic diseases in high-risk patients living in nursing homes.
TMF has initiated a project to provide free onsite, online and video education, knowledge, skills and oral care support to nursing home staff and residents. TMF, in collaboration with the Texas Oral Health Coalition and an inter-professional expert advisory workgroup is developing a comprehensive oral care toolkit and educational curriculum that will be used by TMF’s licensed dental hygienists to provide training to nursing homes in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. An important focus will be providing oral health care to patients with dementia.
TMF is kicking-off this project with a free basic oral screening of a small sample of residents in nursing homes in the selected cities. The screenings will help guide the development and focus of the training curriculum.
Nursing homes interested in participating in these projects may contact us at oralhealth@tmf.org or Kristina Poarch, Administrative Assistant, at kristina.poarch@tmf.org, (512) 334-1755
Smile Proud Nursing Home Oral Care Toolkit
Instructional Toolkit Guide
Instructional Toolkit Guide
Staff Training Materials
Training 1 - Importance of Daily Oral Care for the Elderly, PowerPoint Presentation
Training 2 - Daily Oral Care Strategies and Oral Care Planning, PowerPoint Presentation
Training 3 - Residents Requiring Special Care and The Resistant Resident, PowerPoint Presentation
Free Online Continuing Education – After accessing website, click “Learn Online” and click “Course 8” (Geriatric Oral Health)
Special Safety Precautions
Special Safety Precautions in Spanish
Education/Curriculum Assessments
Facility/Resident/Family Education Materials in Spanish and English
- Importance of Oral Health
- Recommended Facility Oral Health Practices and Policies
- Daily Hygiene Among Residents
- How to clean between the teeth
- Denture and appliance care
Videos
Additional Resources