Integrated oral and general health care for older adults

Abstract

<p>Oral diseases remain highly prevalent in the older adult population worldwide and the prevalence is expected to surge in the coming decade. Oral health affects systemic health, mortality and morbidity of older adults. The World Health Organization has recognized oral health as a pivotal concern in older adults and as a key element in achieve healthy ageing. The integration of oral health into general health care services has been accepted worldwide as the prime approach in improving both oral and general health in older adults. The integration can provide a multi-disciplinary, patient-centred, coordinated and comprehensive management plan to each older adult in tackling both oral and systemic problems together. The integration can tackle their shared risk factors, facilitate early detection of systemic diseases, reinforce the health surveillance system, aid data sharing among disciplines, and allow better allocation of resources and workforce within the healthcare system. However, oral healthcare sector operating as an isolated field with the emphasis on intervention presents the pivotal challenge for the integration. Therefore, it is paramount to implement reforms in clinical practice with the priority on prevention in oral healthcare service, provide interprofessional education and training, develop technology and innovation and conduct research and evaluation to ensure an efficient, effective and long-term integration of oral health into general health services. Professional oral healthcare organizations should support and advocate the integration whereas governments should make policy changes accordingly. The integration will foster an accessible, affordable and available oral and general healthcare services for older adults to improve their oral health and overall well-being until the end of their lifetime. This review aims to discuss the merits, outline the challenges and propose approaches for the integration of oral health into general health care services in older adults.</p>