4. Plan
Review Documents and decide on direction –
“Made in Saskatchewan” model
Revise Strategy and Recommendations
Apply for Funding
SK documents to be developed
Permission/Agreement with Australia
Consultation with Long Term Care Homes
Strategy and Recommendations to government
5. Documents Reviewed
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
POLICIES & GUIDELINES (8):
ASSESSMENT TOOLS (6)
ORAL HEALTH CARE PLANS (9)
TRAINING PORTFOLIOS (3)
ORAL CARE RESOURCES (43)
PROMOTIONAL (5)
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Eastern Health
Nova Scotia
British Society for Disability and Oral Health
Dignity with a Smile, Federal Dental Care Advisory Committee
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
Better Oral Health in Residential Care, Australia
Halton Region
6. Vision
Oral health is an integral part of the
overall health of residents in long-term
care homes and seniors in the
community.
7. Recommendations
1. That the Saskatchewan Government, Ministry of Health
endorses the Saskatchewan Seniors Oral Health and Long
Term Care Strategy developed by the Saskatchewan Oral
Health Professions collaboratively with Long Term Care.
8. Recommendations
2. That legislated Oral Health Care Policies/Standards for Long Term
Care and Personal Care Homes are established based on best practice
to strive for optimal oral and overall health for the people of
Saskatchewan. Policies should ensure that every senior and long
term care resident has the right and access to oral health care
services:
2.1
An individualized oral health care plan
2.2
Basic oral hygiene supplies
2.3 Daily oral hygiene
2.3
Professional dental services
2.4
Oral health record included within the resident’s health record
2.5 Dental recommendations/orders are followed
Note: As per Section 23 of the current Personal Care Home Regulation, each
resident receive a dental examination, as necessary.
9. Recommendations
3. That an Oral Health Coordinator (OHC)(s), who is a
licensed oral health professional, should be
employed in each health region to facilitate the
delivery of initial oral assessments, dental
examinations and treatment, daily oral hygiene for
residents and oral health education. The Oral Health
Coordinator will work collaboratively with the long
term care, multi-disciplinary team to improve the oral
and overall health of residents.
10. Recommendations
4. That upon entry into a Long-Term Care (LTC) home, an initial
oral assessment must be completed by a licensed oral health
professional, through the general/medical consent provided
by the long term care home.
4.1
Oral assessments should be routinely performed every 6
months thereafter, by an oral health professional or a health
care professional trained in oral health.
4.2 Non-oral health professionals performing oral health
assessments or care will receive appropriate training
developed by this project.
4.3 All training will be provided by oral health professionals.
11. Recommendations
5. That initial oral assessments may trigger a referral to a dentist for
a full dental examination to include:
5.1 Personal client record, including consent for dental examination
5.2 Review of medical and dental history
5.3 Complete examination of the oral cavity, to include:
5.3.1 Assessment of hard and soft tissues
5.3.2 Assessment of oral hygiene care
5.3.3 Oral cancer screening
5.3.4 Denture Assessment
5.4 Treatment plan/progress notes
5.5 Estimate/Consent for financial responsibility
5.6 Consent for treatment
12. Recommendations
6. Treatment needs based on the dental examination, may be
provided by dentists, denturists, dental hygienists, dental therapists
and/or dental assistants. Residents may access dental services
through their personal oral health professional or through dental
services as available through the long term care home.
7. That the Saskatchewan government establish a safety net program
for more equitable access to oral health services for low income
residents (similar to Ministry of Health Supplementary Health/Family
Health Benefits or Alberta’s Dental Assistance for Seniors Program
through which low income seniors are eligible for up to $5000 every
5 years for those aged 65 and older).
8. That the Saskatchewan Seniors Oral Health and Long Term Care
Strategy is incorporated into post-secondary educational health
training programs, orientation, and continuing professional
development (i.e. for physicians, nurses, care aides, etc).
13. Recommendations
9. That the standard for new long term care homes includes
provision for a treatment room suitable for a variety of health
professionals including access to portable dental equipment
to facilitate dental treatment.
10. That the implementation of a Saskatchewan electronic health
record includes an oral health component.
11. That surveillance, evaluation and continuous quality
improvement be performed on an ongoing basis to
demonstrate improved health and oral health status
outcomes.
14. Next Steps
SK documents to be developed
Permission/Agreement with Australia
Consultation with Long Term Care Homes
Strategy and Recommendations to
government
