title: The impact of oral health on body image and social interactions among elders in long-term care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore how social interactions and body image are influenced by perceived oral health among older people who live in long-term care facilities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Social interactions among frail elders in long-term care (LTC) facilities are limited, but to what extent body image and oral health influence their social relations is poorly understood. A positive body image and the perception of adequate oral health are linked to increased social contacts, as well as improved health and well-being irrespective of age. However, as frailty increases, it is unclear whether appearance and oral health priorities remain stable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-ended interviews were conducted with a purposefully selected group of cognitively intact, older men and women who exhibited varying degrees of frailty, social engagement and oral health conditions and lived in one of seven long-term care facilities. The interviews were analysed using a constant comparative technique, and a second interview with participants checked the trustworthiness of the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three major categories were expressed by the participants: (1) My mouth is fine; (2) It depends; and (3) Not that important. Within each category, there were several contributing and influencing factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social interactions among residents in LTC may be negatively impacted by poor oral health, but only if other personal and social issues are less bothersome than conditions with the mouth.
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. ldonnelly@dentistry.ubc.ca.
authors: Leeann R
authors: LR
authors: Donnelly
authors: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors: Laura Hurd
authors: LH
authors: Clarke
authors: School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Phinney
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors: Michael I
authors: MI
authors: MacEntee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health
keywords: body image; long-term care; oral health; social interactions