Do what you do best: A statement to live by

There is one place in particular this adage could be put to use-long-term care facilities. We’ve all seen it, complained about it, fumed about it, even written letters or made phone calls about it, oral care in nursing homes leaves a lot to be desired. An odontophile in residence could be the answer to increasing the health of the residents.

While nursing assistants are well trained and very adept at caring for this population’s physical, mental and emotional needs, their ability and interest in carrying out daily oral care procedures is something most of them lack. Why then are they continually forced to improve these skills, like the student writing the word vegetables on the board a million times until he can spell it in his sleep? Is there another care giver who would excel in delivering oral care?

The first thought is employing a dental hygienist in this position. Who better to provide daily oral care than those who do this all day, every day! As with most things, however there is a glitch. Hygienists cannot provide these services without a dentist being associated with the facility. Only half the facilities are associated with a dentist. Although a hygienist cannot provide oral hygiene, using traditional and unique products a dental hygienist can train and oversee the CNA. Waiting for the laws to allow more dental hygienists access can be time well spent if the hygienist oversees the care. This staff member would be known as the “Oral Care Nursing Assistant.” This would be a CNA who is interested and motivated to improve the oral health of residents.

Research shows keeping low biofilm levels results in healthier mouths. Research is also reporting systemic complications in dependent people with massive oral biofilm. Poor diabetic control, pneumonia and an increased incidence of COPD are the most germane to this topic. Dependent adults are at risk for these conditions even if oral care is optimal. They become even more vulnerable when oral care is poor-which it usually is in this arena.

CNA’s are poorly trained to tackle this task. Residents can be difficult to deal with during oral care and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to do an effective job at biofilm reduction. A dedicated Oral Care CNA could provide better oral hygiene with the guidance of a dental professional. Initially a sensible individual daily oral care plan would be developed for each resident with valuable input from nursing staff and the dental professional. Do we think every resident is fit to have teeth brushed and flossed every day? Can every resident ambulate to the commode? CNA and nursing staff know that residents have good and bad days. They often quip about the affects of a full moon. Oral care cannot be a one size fits everyone every day process. Oral care needs to be planned based upon the physical and cognitive abilities of the resident. Each resident’s oral care plan would be posted in a visible area in the resident’s bathroom so the Oral Care CNA can readily view it.

Effective oral care procedures in a 120 bed facility can be achieved by a CNA who is interested in this aspect of care in 40 hours per week. In this model each resident would be seen by the Oral Care CNA only twice a week, which is enough time to create health. While this position would be full time and require another annual salary and benefits, the increase in oral health would most certainly cut down on costly dental visits, lower the incidence of aspiration pneumonia, lower risk of heart attack/stroke and indirectly improve resident quality of life. The time has come to give the task of oral care to a team member who is interested in this work and who will get the job accomplished in an effective manner. Residents should be able to reap the benefits of having care givers “do what they do best” instead of living with substandard oral care by the masses.

 

Who is Taking Care of the Dependent Patient’s Oral Health Every Day? Join us to find out!

On www.DTStudyClub.com, you will find the three-part Webinar series “Simple Advanced Treatment Modalities for the Dependent Patient” with Angie Stone and Shirley Gutkowski.

Part I: Who is Taking Care of the Dependent Patient Every Day?

Are you sick and tired of nursing assistants avoiding their duty to provide oral care to dependent adults? Find out how much you have in common with them! Angie Stone and Shirley Gutkowski bring their exciting tag team program to the Web in this first of three programs. They bring their no nonsense and humorous approach to build the bridges between “Us” and “Them.” Don’t miss this informative, scientific and entertaining program.

Part I of this series will educate the attendees regarding who is actually responsible for oral care in nursing home facilities. Attendees will learn what a typical day is like in the life of a nursing assistant, what education they have been provided and what their position is regarding oral care.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand the true daily work of the nursing assistant
• Know what education the nursing assistant has
• Understand who the nursing assistant is

Part II: The Dental Profession Can Assist Primary Caregivers Help Dependent Patients

Can’t get the nursing assistants to brush and floss the dependent adults they’re in charge of? Never fear, Shirley Gutkowski and Angie Stone show you how to make an impression on care-givers that will stimulate change by shifting your own thinking. Humorous and entertaining, you won’t be disappointed in quality and content of this important Web program.

Part two of this three part module will concentrate on what dental professionals should be teaching during the nursing home staff required annual in-service training session. Think you should be teaching brushing and flossing? Join us to find out!

Learning Objectives:
• Gain knowledge on how to develop an in-service training session
• Know what simple advanced treatment modalities improve the oral health of nursing home residents
• Understand the role Xylitol plays in oral health improvement

Part 3: How to Implement Your Own Training Program Through the Adopt A Nursing Home Initiative

The alphabet soup of titles can be daunting to the oral care provider trying to bring the message of simple novel approaches to oral care in a facility. Angie Stone and Shirley Gutkowski, bring their hard earned knowledge and first-hand experience to this one-hour Web event. The third in the three part series on oral care for the dependent adult is just as entertaining as the first two. It covers who is working at the care facility, who to talk to, and when to call. Don’t miss this important information and round out your new perspective on care-givers and dependent adults.

Part three of this three-part module provides information on how to find a home to adopt. Discussions include: who are the main players in the nursing home environment that need to be contacted, what should be said when contacting the facility, as well as complete information regarding AANH.

Learning Objectives:
• Know who to contact at a facility to Adopt the nursing home
• Understand what to say to the facility administrators
• Know what the mission and goals are of AANH

Take advantage of this opportunity to earn 3 C.E. credits by logging onto www.DTStudyClub.com, Online Courses to register. Attendees will have access to the archived presentation for 30 days. All three Webinars are offered for US$95.