Access, place of residence and interdisciplinary opportunities

Abstract

Healthy People (2000) stated, 'Having adequate access to medical and dental care can reduce morbidity and mortality, preserve function and enhance overall quality of life'.) This statement is particularly relevant to older adults as their oral health has improved over the past 50 years, and their utilization of dental services has increased (Vargas, Kamarow, & Yellowitz, 2001). )Older adults have an increasing need for care; however, barriers to care increase with age, andmany elders do not receive care on a routine basis (Stanton and Rutherford 2003). The Surgeon General's report on oral health identified the elderly among the populations most vulnerable to poor dental care (U.S. DHHS, 2000)). © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.