Oral health care in private and small long-term care facilities: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
Elderly people who are institutionalised receive qualified care. Among the services supplied, oral health care has not always been a priority. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of oral health care provided to the elderly residents in long-term care facilities (LTC) in Porto Alegre/RS city.


METHODS
Twelve private and small-size LTCs (less than 20 residents) participated in this study. All supervisors and 36 carers were interviewed. The data obtained were organised according to the offer of oral health under the following categories: responsibility for oral care, oral care routines, difficulties carrying out oral care routines.


RESULTS
The procedures used most often in order of frequency were tooth brushing, prostheses cleaning, use of mouthwashes, soaking of prostheses and cleaning of the tongue. Among the difficulties mentioned were the high cost of dental assistance, the lack of co-operation both by family members and by the elderly themselves, the oral and general health status of the elderly and the limited time available for carers to carry out the tasks. Oral care is conducted empirically, and the responsibility is left to the carers.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of the statements given reveals that oral care does not follow any kind of protocol or standardisation. The persistence of this situation could lead to unsatisfactory oral health care in private and small LTC facilities.
Department of Estomatology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil. alfm@terra.com.br
Ana Lúcia Schaefer Ferreira
AL
de Mello
Dalva Maria Pereira
DM
Padilha
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers; D017266:Dental Prosthesis; D003820:Denture Cleansers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000592:standards; D000078329:Workforce
D003820:Denture Cleansers; D009067:Mouthwashes