Oral Health Promotion To Improve Quality Of Life
I’m currently working on a capstone project titled “Oral Health Promotion to Improve the Quality of Life in Older Adults Living Independently”. The project is taking place in and adult living community in Miami Florida and the intervention to be implemented as the practice change project will be a 4 week oral health education program targeted to improve knowledge about oral care, benefits and consequences.
In 750 words explain that
· you encountered a problem statement that guided you to develop your practice change project.
· What problem did you find on the site that made you develop an implementation to improve it? Oral health is overlooked by many adults and it is not considered as important as other health issues.
· Why do you think this problem, if not addressed, would affect patients’ quality of life? If not addressed has consequences like cavities, gum disease, or might develop in something worse like pneumonia or endocarditis.
· Do you think its implementation is necessary to improve or solve the problem?
It should include at least 3 academic sources.
Answer:
Problem Statement:
The lack of oral health promotion in older adults is a critical issue that needs to be addressed in order to improve the quality of life of older adults living independently. Despite the importance of oral health in maintaining overall well-being, it is often overlooked in older adults, who are at a higher risk of developing oral health problems. This project aims to address this problem by implementing a 4-week oral health education program in an adult living community in Miami, Florida.
Problem Description:
Oral health is a critical component of overall health and well-being, yet it is often overlooked by older adults who live independently. According to a study by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, about 92% of older adults have had cavities, and nearly a quarter of them have untreated tooth decay (NIDCR, 2019). In addition, older adults are at a higher risk of developing gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss, and has been linked to a variety of other health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes (NIDCR, 2019).
This lack of attention to oral health can have a profound impact on the quality of life of older adults, leading to pain, difficulty eating, and social isolation (NIDCR, 2019). In some cases, oral health problems can even lead to serious health complications, such as pneumonia and endocarditis, which can be life-threatening (NIDCR, 2019).
Implementation Necessity:
The implementation of an oral health education program is necessary to address the lack of oral health promotion in older adults and to improve the quality of life of those who live independently. Education is a powerful tool for promoting behavior change, and by providing older adults with the knowledge and skills they need to take care of their oral health, they will be more likely to adopt healthy habits that can prevent oral health problems (Department of Health and Human Services, 2011).
In addition, the implementation of this program will have a positive impact on the overall health of older adults, as oral health problems have been linked to a variety of other health problems (NIDCR, 2019). By addressing oral health issues early, older adults will be able to avoid more serious health problems and maintain their quality of life as they age.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the lack of oral health promotion in older adults is a critical issue that needs to be addressed in order to improve the quality of life of older adults living independently. The implementation of a 4-week oral health education program is necessary to address this problem, as it will provide older adults with the knowledge and skills they need to take care of their oral health and prevent oral health problems. By addressing oral health issues early, older adults will be able to avoid more serious health problems and maintain their quality of life as they age.
References:
Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2019). Older Adults and Oral Health. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/older-adults-oral-health.
World Health Organization. (2013). Global Oral Health Data Bank. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/oral_health/data/en/.
