Dental News - Capitol Hill event advocates for increased access to oral health care for older adults

Dental Tribune USA

Wed. 25 November 2015

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WASHINGTON, D.C., USA: Oral Health America (OHA) and Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait, an initiative of the Dental Trade Alliance, brought together dozens of oral-health leaders on Capitol Hill to address the challenges facing older Americans with access to oral health care. The event was titled “Aging in America: You Can’t Be Healthy Without Good Oral Health.”

Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, was featured as keynote speaker.

Dr. David Satcher was recognized as the 2015 recipient of the Marvin Goldstein Outstanding Public Service Award for his dedicated leadership in improving public health in the United States.

Satcher served as U.S. Surgeon General from 1998 to 2002, releasing the first ever Surgeon General’s report on oral health.

“It is a special occasion for me and I express my deepest appreciation for this award,” said Satcher, founder of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute of the Morehouse School of Medicine. “The theme ‘Aging in America: You Can’t Be Healthy Without Good Oral Health’ is a very important theme, and it is also a very special year. It is the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid and the Older Americans’ Act, very important anniversary in the history of our country as it relates to health and health care.”

The Capitol Hill event was part of OHA’s annual Fall for Smiles campaign, which educates Americans every September and October about the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth through daily brushing and flossing, making regular dental visits, eating healthy foods and avoiding tobacco products.

According to a recent survey commissioned by OHA and conducted by Harris Poll, older adults already recognize the importance of oral health, with 58 percent saying they do not believe tooth loss is a natural part of aging and 92 percent agreeing that dental visits are necessary even if you are missing some or all of your teeth. However, many are confused as to what Medicare covers, with 52 percent of older adults unsure about what Medicare covers or believing Medicare covers routine dental care.

More than half of low-income older adults reported not having seen a dentist in more than a year, with most citing lack of money and/or insurance as the reason.

“The people having trouble chewing, experiencing pain, having trouble trying to afford their next meal, we’re generally talking about those in the greatest social and economic need. Research tells us that poor dental health of course drives health care costs,” said Hollander. “We both have the same challenge if we do not address these inextricably linked issues.”

OHA staff and board members are asking members of Congress to pass the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, restore funding for all programs within the Older Americans Act to pre-sequestration levels, support family caregivers through the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act and support workforce innovations to increase access to care.

Fall for Smiles is sponsored by 3M ESPE, DentaQuest Foundation, Denticator, Hu-Friedy, Listerine, Midmark, National Dental Association, Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait, Patterson Dental, Sunstar, Trident and Whip Mix.

(Source: Oral Health America)

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