Cuidado bucal en mayores dependientes de un programa de cuidados domiciliarios

Purpose

To determine the characteristics of the caregivers, their training and role in oral health care practices of the dependent elderly in a Domiciliary Care Program, Commune of Providencia.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a randomised sample of elderly individuals, who were part of the Domiciliary Care Program in the Commune of Providencia, Santiago, Chile. A questionnaire was used to determine the caregiver characteristics, their training in oral health care, frequency of oral hygiene, and difficulties in carrying it out, as well as who performs the hygiene according to the level of dependency of the elderly person (Katz Index).

Results

Most (73.4%) of the caregivers have not received any training for oral health care. More than half (57,3%) of the caregivers have carry out the oral hygiene of an elder and the majority (82.7%) had difficulties to complete it, mostly the elder doesn’t allow other people do the hygiene. All elders with mild dependency perform their own oral hygiene but the majority of elders with severe dependency need help (7.9%) or the caregiver must do it (76.3%).

Conclusions

It is fundamental to improve caregiver training on oral health care of domiciliary dependent elderly people. When dependency increases, the role of the caregiver in oral hygiene is most important.