Reducing Inequalities

• Communication with residents, families and care home staff.
• Understanding the needs of care home residents with physical and cognitive disabilities.
• The ageing care home resident and the impact of ageing on oral health.
• Practical aspects of delivering domiciliary dental care within care homes.
• Communication skills, group discussions and peer review.
• Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) legislation.
• Assessment and management of medically complex care home residents.
• Implementation of the Caring for Smiles programme within care homes.
• Practical considerations for planning and delivering dental treatment in domiciliary care settings.

Prerequisites:
Employed as a General Dental Practitioner

Learning aims:
To develop the knowledge, practical skills and professional judgement required to safely assess, plan and deliver domiciliary dental care for residents living in care homes. The programme focuses on person-centred care for older adults and individuals with long-term conditions, complex medical needs and cognitive impairment, including situations where capacity to consent requires careful assessment and application of relevant legislation.

Learning outcomes:
1) Explain the principles and objectives of the Caring for Smiles programme and demonstrate how it supports the delivery of high-quality oral healthcare within care home environments. 2) Recognise the challenges associated with providing domiciliary dental care for an ageing care home population and apply these considerations when assessing patients, planning treatment and delivering care within residential settings. 3) Assess the impact of physical disabilities, frailty and cognitive impairment on dental treatment planning and identify appropriate adaptations that facilitate safe and effective domiciliary care in care homes. 4) Undertake a holistic assessment of medically complex care home residents and develop individualised treatment plans that reflect their medical, social and functional needs while promoting comfort, dignity and quality of life. 5) Accurately complete, where appropriate, a Certificate of Incapacity under Section 47 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 as part of the provision of domiciliary dental care. 6) Identify patients who may fall within the scope of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, maximise decision-making capacity wherever possible and support residents to participate fully in decisions relating to their dental treatment.

Type: Bookable course

Audience: Dentistry (audience)

Educational frameworks: