7 - Living well or just living: OH and QoL of older people

Question 1

What is the difference between biological and chronological age?

Answer 1

• biological age is based on overall health
• chronological age is your actual age in years

Question 2

Define frailty.

Answer 2

State of increased vulnerability to stressors due to age related declines in physiological reserve across neuromuscular, metabolic and immune systems.

Question 3

What is the frailty phenotype?

Answer 3

• unintentional weight loss >4.5kg in a year
• exhaustion
• weakness measured by grip strength
• slow walking speed
• low physical activity

3 or more = frail
1 or 2 = pre-frail
Nil = fit

Question 4

What is OHRQoL?

Answer 4

Oral health related quality of life

Question 5

What is important in OHRQoL?

Answer 5

• function
• pain
• environment
• treatment expectations
• psychology
• social factors

Question 6

What measures are used to assess OHRQoL?

Answer 6

• geriatric general oral health (12 qs)
• dental impact profile (25 qs)
• oral health impact profile (49 or 14 qs)

Question 7

What is caring for smiles?

Answer 7

• Scotland’s oral health promotion and training programme for those in care homes
• adults living in care homes should have their mouth care needs recorded in their personal care plan
• adults should be supported to clean their teeth twice a day or support for daily cleaning of dentures

Question 8

What are the key problems to treat to maintain QoL?

Answer 8

• dry mouth
• ulceration
• infection and pain