The dilemma about dentists and opticians in care homes.

How many care homes have access to dentists and opticians for their residents? There are no statistics that will answer this question, but when was the last time you heard of a resident having their teeth or eyes checked?
This is what you should know if it was longer than 12 months ago;
Dental Health.
i. Dental health is often an indicator of underlying health problems.
ii. Untreated dental health can lead to complications including heart and respiratory problems.
iii. Elderly people are more susceptible to oral disease.
iv. If your false teeth are loose not only is it difficult to eat - it’s really embarrassing.
Optical Health.
i. The NHS entitlement scheme means everybody over the age of 60 is entitled to regular free eye tests.
ii. The elderly require regular eye exams as their vision becomes increasingly important as other senses deteriorate.
iii. The elderly are more at risk of eye conditions like glaucoma, age-related muscular degeneration and cataracts.
iv. These conditions can be detected through early eye exams and treated with little or no loss of vision.
v. Untreated optical conditions can lead to loss of sight.
vi. Wearing the wrong prescription restricts an already limited environment.
Regulations.
The Care Plan that is put into place after an assessment will gauge the needs of the service user for; sight and hearing, oral health and foot care. Should the needs of the service user change over time then re-assessments should pick this up.
In reality it requires the conscientious approach of a vigilant care home to spot any of the tell-tale signs of deterioration and the need to see a specialist.
In addition to this, mobile dentists and opticians are not widely available or easy to access for care homes.
Having a correctly fitting pair of dentures that enable you to eat properly, or glasses that actually help you to see are surely fundamental rights in this age - and allow for a dignified existence.
If you know somebody who is unable to access these services independently and need some assistance – be their Dignity Champion.
If you know of any mobile dentists or opticians, or have any other suggestions on how to overcome this problem I would love to hear from you.