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Providence Health Care's Geriatric Dentistry Program Wins BCMA Health Promotion Award
<< BACK | Download Word File Vancouver, June 22, 2005 — The Centre for Aging and Health at Providence Health Care has won the BC Medical Association's Excellence in Health Promotion Award for its Geriatric Dentistry program, which effectively meets the oral hygiene needs of long-term care residents. Established in 2002 as a joint initiative of the Centre for Aging and Health at Providence Health Care and the UBC Faculty of Dentistry, the program is the first of its kind in Canada. It was developed in response to a needs assessment that showed that over 70 per cent of residents had significant dental problems. Proper dental care and oral health are often overlooked in the elderly, especially those who live in long-term residential care. The problem is compounded because most dentists are not equipped or trained to deal with the cognitive and physical impairments of the frail elderly. The Geriatric Dentistry program addresses this by offering specialized on-site dental treatment, educating staff and residents on daily oral hygiene and conducting research into geriatric dentistry. "Another important part of this program is that it encourages residents to develop personal skills and to take control of their oral health," says Taj Bhaloo, leader of PHC's Centre for Aging and Health. "Staff and families have told us stories of residents who are now able to eat solid foods, who experience less pain and have therefore been able to gain some much-needed weight." The program now serves Providence's 700 long-term care residents as well as 300 residents in three other Vancouver Coastal Health residential facilities. The Geriatric Dentistry Program is made possible with support from Vancouver Coastal Health and the St. Vincent's Hospital Foundation. The Centre for Aging and Health promotes healthy aging through research, advocacy and partnerships, helping older adults achieve or maintain wellness in the community and in health care settings. Providence Health Care is Canada's largest faith-based health-care organization, operating six sites in Vancouver that offer services ranging from speciality acute care to residential care for the elderly. Contact: Gavin Wilson Providence Health Care Communications Tel. 604-806-8583 Email: gwilson@providencehealth.bc.ca << BACK | Download Word File |
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