Oral Health in Edmonton Community Dwelling Older Adults

• Author / Creator

  Khabra, Kimi K

• Poor oral health in older adults is identified as a major health issue. There are cumulative effects of oral diseases over time that may impact other health issues for older adults. Regular utilization of dental care is key to maintaining good oral health in later life; however, older adults identified oral health care as the most common health care service they need, which has significant barriers. The purpose of this study was to explore oral health experiences from the perspective of older adults’ living in community dwellings: to identify facilitators and barriers to oral health care, and to determine how oral health services utilization compares to utilization of other healthcare services. An interpretive descriptive methodology was employed with a purposive sample of 12 adults, aged 70 years or older. The inclusion criterion was English-speaking seniors residing in community dwellings. Community dwellings were defined as any housing outside of long-term care or other supportive living facilities. Semi-structured interviews were 30-80 minutes, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Three researchers participated in the comparative analysis process to develop codes, generate categories, interpret patterns, and construct themes. Three central themes surfacing from the data were: 1) life course influences on oral health; 2) transparency in delivery of oral health services; and 3) interrelationships between oral health and overall health. Study findings were interpreted within the context of current literature and a theory of aging. Perspectives of older adults in this study helped inform suggestions for improving dental and dental hygiene clinical interventions in the following areas: recognizing the value of establishing collaborative and trusting relationships between oral health practitioners and older adults; including oral health services as part of interdisciplinary care; and funding more research to expand research related to life course influences on oral health for older adults.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Community dwelling
  • Barriers to oral health services
  • Facilitators to oral health services
  • Older adults
  • Utilization of oral health services

• Graduation date

  Spring 2016

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3F47H023

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.