A REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON ORAL HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS
JUST THE F.A.C.T.S.
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE ORAL HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS IN CONNECTICUT
January 2008
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements i
Executive Summary ii
Mission of the Department of Public Health’s Office of Oral Health iv
Introduction 1
Challenges within Connecticut 4 Oral Health 4 Financial 6 Access to Care 7 Older Adult Characteristics 11
The FACTS: Actionable Strategies 13 Financial 14 Advocacy 17 Communications 20 Training 23 Services 26
Appendices A. Task Force Membership List 30 B. Acronyms 31 C. Oral Disease and Prevention 32 D. Identified Strategies for Preventing Oral Disease 37 E. Current Oral Health Services Resources 39 F. Bibliography 41
2 Acknowledgements
The Department of Public Health wishes to thank the following organizations for their expertise, time and effort in the development of this report.
AARP Connecticut Connecticut Association of Agencies on Aging Connecticut Association for Not-for-Profit Providers for the Aging (CANPFA) Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Dental Hygienists’ Association, Inc. Connecticut Department of Developmental Services Connecticut Department of Public Health Connecticut Department of Social Services Connecticut Health Foundation Connecticut Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI) Connecticut State Dental Association University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
A special thanks to the Fones School of Dental Hygiene interns Doris Raposo, R.D.H Lee Paradis, R.D.H
This report was prepared by: Megan Massicotte Springfield College Intern to the Office of Oral Public Health
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Executive Summary
The Connecticut Department of Public Health established a Task Force on Oral Health for Older Adults. The Task Force was established as a result of concerns in the community regarding the availability and accessibility of oral health services for poor and vulnerable older adults. The Task Force was charged with developing actionable strategies to improve the oral health of older adults in Connecticut.
The members of the Task Force met over a one-year period to develop actionable strategies for older adults in: