Oral Health Education and Training Needs Among Caregivers of Older Adults: Insights From the MOTIVATE at Home Program

Abstract

Background: The impacts of poor oral health on overall health are significant for community-dwelling older adults, particularly those needing daily care support. Oral health literacy remains low overall and the myth that poor oral health is a normal part of aging persists. There is a scarcity of educational programming to equip caregivers with the skills to maintain good oral health for their older care recipients. Maine’s MOTIVATE at Home program aims to address this critical need for oral health education for care partners of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A statewide needs assessment survey was conducted with caregivers of older adults (N = 135) to identify knowledge and skill gaps and preferences for learning. Results: One in 4 care recipients lacked access to a regular dentist and 45.2% had not visited a dental clinic in the last year. Caregivers report a lack of oral health conversations with dental and healthcare providers but high levels of reported interest in learning more about older adult oral health. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate an opportunity for educating caregivers about the connection between oral health and overall health. Such efforts should accommodate the diverse learning needs of caregivers and their desire for flexibility in content delivery.