Preparing to meet the oral health needs of the elderly in Qatar - A model for Domiciliary Oral Health Care Services
1 Head of Oral Public Health, Dentistry Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
2 Oral Public Health Coordinator, Dentistry Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020, 08(03), 184-191
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2020.8.3.0459
Publication history:
Received on 01 December 2020; revised on 12 December 2020; accepted on 14 December 2020
Abstract:
Aging is a natural and irreversible process of life. Oral health of elderly people is an important public health issue and good oral health is an essential part of their health care. Currently, the challenge lies in aligning the existing health system with the needs and preferences of the elderly people.
The aim of this article is to propose a model for Domiciliary Oral Health Care Services for elderly in Qatar, wherein a definite pathway for oral care is identified and the Domiciliary Oral Health Care Services program is standardized, from the initial phase of oral assessment, through the oral health promotion and preventative phase until the dental treatment phase. This model will help to deliver oral health care to elderly who may be unable to access or face difficulties to access the dental services in conventional dental clinical settings due to disability, infirmity or old age. It will ensure oral comfort, pain relief, essential oral care and enhancement of oral hygiene for the elderly. Working in collaboration with organizations offering Home Healthcare Services, Domiciliary Oral Health Care Services will help in realization of the shared goal of achieving ‘Healthy Ageing’, holistic health and welfare for the elderly in Qatar. By favoring the policy to initiate the DOHCS as “Essential health services that benefits all elderly people living in Qatar”, the State of Qatar would probably be the pioneer in Middle East region to initiate such a program at National level for improving the oral health of the elderly.
Keywords:
Domiciliary Oral Health Care; Elderly; Oral Health; Homecare; Qatar
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Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0