Date of Graduation
Spring 5-22-2015
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
First Advisor
Melissa Vendeveer
Second Advisor
Elena Capella
Abstract
The project is about the collaboration between Peninsula Health Care District (PHCD) and Apple Tree Dental (ATD) in a team approach to address the current issues of improving dental care of frail and elderly patients in nursing home facilities. The specific aim is to improve dental care of clients at the San Mateo County nursing home facility by 100% by May, 2015. The methods use in this project was the adaptation and implementation of existing dental/oral health assessment tools, that is nurse driven for patient assessment upon admission to the nursing facility. The process includes staff education regarding the adapted assessment tool and the identification of champions to provide for residents self-care deficits. The activities completed, were several meetings were held by the CNL student, ATD director and Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) and the preceptor. The assessment tool was approved by PHCD and ATD. It was evaluated by 2 nurse champions and modifications were made. The implementation of the tool has not been initiated in the nursing home due to the fact that the nursing facility has not signed the contract with ATD. ATD opened their center and there were 8 staff members attended the short educational session about improving dental care for the elderly in nursing home facilities. The activities not completed were, the assessment tool was not for dental care assessment for the elderly in the nursing home facilities. If it was used as planned, the improvement of dental care in the nursing home would increase at least 75% with compliancy of the patient and staff members. It would have been an effective assessment tool in the emergency room, the ICU or the medical surgical floors. The nurses will fill out the assessment and make the recommendations of referring the elderly patients to ATD upon discharge. Continued education, feedback and continued gathering of data would be necessary to determine the effectiveness of the tool.
Recommended Citation
Licavoli, Cara M., "Improving Dental Care to the Elderly in a Nursing Home" (2015). Master's Projects and Capstones. 125.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/125
