title: Oral health status and physical, mental and cognitive disabilities among nursing home residents in Jordan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to describe physical, mental and cognitive disabilities and periodontal status as indicated by periodontal health, edentulism and use of dentures among nursing home residents in Jordan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 221 subjects with a mean age of 62.4 years (121 males and 100 females) from nursing home residents in Jordan were recruited to participate in this study. Oral health status, mini mental state examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Tinetti Assessment Battery for gait and balance (TAB) and disability of arm, shoulder and hand test (DASH) were assessed for all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was about 88%. The multivariate analysis showed that the degree of upper limb disabilities, as measured by DASH, and reporting not brushing of teeth were the main risk indicators for severity of periodontal disease. Residents with dentures were found to have significantly higher cognitive abilities scores (MMSE), better upper arm abilities (DASH) and gait and balance score (TAB) in comparison with edentulous adults without dentures. Edentulous residents were found to suffer more from cognitive impairment (MMSE) than dentate residents. There was no predilection of upper limb (DASH) and lower limb (TAB) disabilities or depressive symptoms (GDS) for edentulous over dentate subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that nursing home residents with a variety of physical, cognitive and psychological disabilities are at increased risk of deterioration of their oral health. All those associated with the health of residents need to be aware of this issue and take preventive and therapeutic measures as needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Fidaa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almomani
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Abed Al-Hadi
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hamasha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Based at Center for Behavioral Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Audiology and Balance Unit, ORL-HNS Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almomani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: cognitive; disability.; mental; nursing homes; oral health; physical