Training for carers

Improving Oral Health in Older Persons Initiative (IOHOPI) developed in association with the University of Kent, aims to raise awareness of the importance of good oral health later in life by providing training for carers within the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Its website, www.iohopi.co.uk, has been specially developed by the British Dental Health Foundation and features e-learning modules, links and resources that aim to substantially improve the overall wellbeing and quality of life for older people.

More than three million people already visit the British Dental Health Foundation’s website every year to access oral health information and chief executive of the charity, Nigel Carter OBE, hopes this new resource will encourage carers to go online and learn more about the importance of good oral health for their dependent.

Nigel said: “Elderly people have some very specific dental needs with many suffering from decay due to changes in saliva flow that occur with age or as a result of prescription drug use. If these needs aren't met and become neglected, you will see the types of problems witnessed in the study, most notably increased tooth mobility, which will eventually lead to losing teeth.