West Midlands Care Home Dental Survey 2011: part 1. Results of questionnaire to care home managers.

AIM

To provide baseline data on dental issues affecting residents from the perspective of care home managers to inform oral health local needs assessments and commissioning decisions.

METHODS

A pre-piloted postal questionnaire was sent to all identified managers of adult care homes (1,832) in the West Midlands between February and April 2011. Quantitative analysis was complemented by seeking the views of care home managers regarding training and experience of, and access to, dental services.

RESULTS

The response rate to the study was 63.9% (1,170/1,832). There were 194 responding care homes who reported that residents had problems accessing dental services. Nearly double the proportion of nursing care homes and care homes with residents with elderly mental impairment (EMI) reported problems accessing dental services compared with care homes without nursing care and non-EMI care homes. Issues raised included patient safety concerns, reservations regarding expertise of dental staff, difficulties with transporting residents and waiting times for treatment.

CONCLUSION

The survey provided a snapshot of dental issues as reported by care home managers, these results should help inform both the dental profession and those who commission services about issues affecting the oral health of patients living in care homes.