2023-10-15 23:00:00
We know that oral and dental pathologies, which are extremely widespread, affect more fragile people, particularly the elderly.
Far from being limited to the oral sphere alone, these diseases can have serious nutritional consequences, contribute to the development of chronic diseases and lead to serious consequences on people’s self-esteem and social interactions.
Thus, taking oral health into account as a public health emergency, just like vision and hearing, is essential as it is linked to the quality of life of our elders.
These discussions revealed the multifactorial aspect of the difficulties encountered by seniors in preserving their oral health. First of all, the pain of dental pathologies disappears with age, which does not encourage consultation.
In addition, oral health suffers from the lack of awareness among elderly people themselves of preventive measures and the difficulty of regularly visiting a dental surgeon.
Social inequalities must also and imperatively be taken into account: the (often very high) cost of dental care constitutes a real barrier for many people, sometimes coupled with geographical inequalities, aggravated in the event of dependence.
Faced with the difficulties encountered by these seniors, the involvement of all health professionals is essential. It is therefore urgent to develop prevention and training actions, but also to think about “going towards” methods in order to preserve the oral health of elderly people, whether they live at home or in an institution.
The dietary standards and nutritional needs of the elderly are specific, due to changes in smell, taste and the feeling of hunger and, also, their oral health, coupled with geriatric syndromes and physical inactivity.
Whether at home or in an institution, the development of a personalized diet is essential to respond to deficiencies and take into account the specific difficulties of each person.
As such, initiatives have already been launched and outline what should be generalized for the well-being of seniors. And to limit the risks of malnutrition and bring “taste to life”, it is advisable to avoid prohibitions and to think about dishes combining respect for nutritional needs and taste quality.
As part of its approach to improving the oral health and nutrition of older people, and following the debate on “oral health, nutrition and aging well in old age”, the Foundation of the Academy of Medicine, accompanied by nile, supports three recommendations and areas of reflection:
– Raise awareness among elderly people and their caregivers about oral health, through the implementation of communication actions.
– Prevent undernutrition among the elderly by generalizing initiatives to improve the nutritional and taste quality of the dishes offered, both at home and in establishments.
– Train all health professionals in oral care, in order to combat inequalities in access to care and ensure a better quality of life for the elderly.
These three axes (raising awareness, training, prevention) are included in the innovative “nutri-age” program, launched by the Foundation of the Academy of Medicine. The latter is thus resolutely committed to the development of these three areas, in favor of the oral health of the elderly.
The Foundation of the Academy of Medicine brings together experts to tackle major health challenges. She acts on the ground alongside all stakeholders to make women and men responsible for their health.
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