Health - the facts you should know

When an individual becomes dependent on assistance from others, either at home or in residential care, areas that have a significant impact on health and well-being can be easily overlooked.

ORAL HEALTH

There are two areas within dentistry that if ignored can severely affect health and well-being.

- Poor oral hygiene
- Poorly fitting dentures

Poor oral hygiene:
Oral health problems can have a profound impact on general health, in addition to which problems with general health frequently become evident in the mouth.
Keeping teeth clean with regular brushing is essential to maintain good health and well-being. Evidence from several recent studies indicates that poor oral hygiene is a contributing factor to chest infections and a growing body of evidence suggests a link with cardiovascular disease and strokes. Many prescribed drugs have oral side-effects and studies show that within a year of living in residential care oral health can deteriorate considerably unless care is taken.

Poorly fitting dentures:
As a result of age, shrinking gums or wear and tear, dentures over time can become loose and don’t fit. The result of this is difficulty in eating and talking, over 40% of older denture wearers are embarrassed by the length of time they take to eat a meal, leading them to avoid eating with others and social isolation.
At a time when a balanced diet is essential to maintain health, ill fitting dentures and poor oral hygiene can severely restrict an individuals ability to eat meat, fresh fruit and vegetables with a knock-on effect on fibre and vitamins.

Solutions:
The person best placed to ensure that an individual does not suffer from poorly fitting dentures or poor oral hygiene is often the carer. Look out for signs of difficulty in eating or social withdrawal.

Problems:
Finding a dentist, particular one that will make home visits can be problematic. At best-care-home we are putting together a register of dentists that will make these visits. Please contact us if you would recommend your dentist.

You are entitled to free NHS treatment if you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit and you will need to show proof of this entitlement, or if you are on a low income and have savings of less that £16,000 if you live at home or £23,000 if you live in a care home (Age Concern, April 2010).

EYESIGHT

Figures suggest that more people need expert eye care than are currently receiving it, with over half a million Britons over the age of 75 having extremely poor eyesight.

You are entitled to a free NHS sight test within your own home if you are;

- Unable to leave home unassisted or you have a physical or mental disability

And

- You are aged over 60
- Under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education
- Registered blind or partially sighted
- Diagnosed as having diabetes or glaucoma or at risk of glaucoma
- Prescribed a complex lens
- Receiving certain benefits or credits

For further details of your eligibility. Be aware - if your glasses are lost and your prescription is over 2 years old you will need to have an eye test in order to obtain a replacement pair. This can be particularly difficult for those who may be unable to articulate their needs.
Contact local opticians who will carry out a free eye test and prescribe glasses.

Adults with Learning Disabilities - about 30% of adults with learning disabilities have a significant impairment of site.  If not treated even a small deterioration of sight can create increased difficulties.  For a fact sheet on eye care for adults with learning disabilities look at SeeAbility who provide a range of information.

HEARING LOSS

Being unable to hear properly tends to creep up on you and as a result many people do not seek help. Hearing loss not only affects the sufferer but those around them too.
According to studies approximately 28% of people who are hearing impaired are between 16-60 years of age, and 72% are over 60 years of age.
In terms of age-related hearing loss, about 71% of people who are hearing impaired are over 70 years of age. The severity of hearing impairment among this age group is as follows:

• mild - 38%,
• moderate - 52%, and
• severe - 10%.

Being unable to hear properly has been linked in studies to;

- Anxiety and irritability
- Stress, depression and paranoia
- Anger and helplessness
- Isolation, loneliness and social withdrawal
- Increased risk to personal safety (i.e. fire alarms)

What are the signs of hearing loss?

- Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
- Needing frequent repetition
- Responding inappropriately to conversation
- Restraining from favourite hobbies

What are the causes of hearing loss?

- Ageing (Presbyacusis)
- Exposure to excessive noise levels
- Infections or injuries
- Reaction to drugs
- Congenital and genetic defects

In order to fully take part in the life and activities around you it is important to be able to hear to the best of your ability. The NHS will provide hearing aids, for more information on how to get a hearing aid through the NHS

Ensure that hearing aids can be maintained within a care home as some aids require 3 monthly checks to maintain full performance.
To find a private hearing aid consultant near you, who will come to your home and maintain your hearing aid, look at our register.

 
Useful links

British Society for Disability and Oral Health

‘Half a million have poor eyesight’ BBC News

RNID (Royal National Institute of Deaf People)

RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)

The Independent - Oral Healthcare

Meeting the challenges of Oral Health for Older People: A Strategic Review 2005 (Department of Health). Vol 22