THURSDAY, 5 JULY, 2018

Photograph attached: Gemma Bain (left) with staff and residents at the care home

Oral Health Award for Dundee care home

Balcarres care home in Broughty Ferry has been awarded the Oral Health Award by NHS Tayside. 

The award was developed by the NHS Tayside Oral Health Improvement Team in 2011 to encourage homes to include new oral health standards as part of the residents’ care package. It also incorporates the national Caring for Smiles Training tool.

NHS Tayside oral health co-ordinator Carrie Phillips said, “We have been working across Tayside to encourage care homes to get involved and receive acknowledgment for the standard of mouth care for their residents. This is a great accolade and demonstrates the high standards of care available in care homes.”

The project was introduced to help increase the profile of oral health within Tayside care homes. Dental health support worker Gemma Bain, who covers all care homes in Dundee, added, “The staff have worked extremely hard over the past few months to meet the criteria. I look forward to working with other Dundee care homes to encourage participation and promote oral health issues.”

The award criteria include:

• Developing an oral health policy for the home

• Developing individual resident oral care plans

• Mouth checks within one week of admission

• Referral to a dentist of choice and screening by a dentist at least every two years

• Ensuring residents have appropriate toothpaste and toothbrush

• Ensure, where appropriate, residents’ dentures are named and they have denture boxes

• At least 75% of staff receiving specific oral health training

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718