Dental health and care in care homes
Download (PDF 13.15 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Central West London carried out surveys of care home residents, friends and family and staff about access to dentistry for care home residents. They spoke to 68 people.
Many residents were happy with the care they received from care home staff. They told us that staff work hard to enable residents to maintain good oral health.
Many residents do not have access to the support and services they need. This is particularly the case for residents with dementia, or those receiving end of life care.
Dental health and care was not always covered in staff inductions and other training. Permanent staff were often unaware what specific training agency staff had received. This contributed to a low awareness of dental health policies across care homes.
The report contains eight recommendations about making dental care more accessible for care home residents.