TY - JOUR
T1 - Oral care in hospital settings
T2 - Breaking the vicious circle of older adult deconditioning
AU - Oda, Keiko
AU - Montayre, Jed
AU - Parsons, John
AU - Boyd, Michal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © SLACK Incorporated.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Hospitalized older adults frequently develop aspiration pneumonia, swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia), and sarcopenia. In the current study, we propose a framework that incorporates these three factors into a vicious circle that leads to deconditioning, a condition frequently experienced by this vulnerable population. Viewing aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia, and sarcopenia, along with their interrelationships through the lens of this vicious circle, illuminates the critical role that oral health plays in deconditioning. Moreover, this framework highlights oral care as a key nursing intervention for reducing deconditioning in hospitalized older adults. Supporting this view, several studies have shown that oral care can improve health outcomes for hospitalized older adults. However, despite oral care being an essential nursing intervention that restores oral function and promotes patient wellness, it is one of the most neglected nursing interventions. Missed oral care occurs due to staff’s limited awareness of its significance for care-dependent older adults in hospital settings. We hope that this vicious circle paradigm helps raise awareness of the significance of oral care to prevent deconditioning in hospitalized older adults.
AB - Hospitalized older adults frequently develop aspiration pneumonia, swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia), and sarcopenia. In the current study, we propose a framework that incorporates these three factors into a vicious circle that leads to deconditioning, a condition frequently experienced by this vulnerable population. Viewing aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia, and sarcopenia, along with their interrelationships through the lens of this vicious circle, illuminates the critical role that oral health plays in deconditioning. Moreover, this framework highlights oral care as a key nursing intervention for reducing deconditioning in hospitalized older adults. Supporting this view, several studies have shown that oral care can improve health outcomes for hospitalized older adults. However, despite oral care being an essential nursing intervention that restores oral function and promotes patient wellness, it is one of the most neglected nursing interventions. Missed oral care occurs due to staff’s limited awareness of its significance for care-dependent older adults in hospital settings. We hope that this vicious circle paradigm helps raise awareness of the significance of oral care to prevent deconditioning in hospitalized older adults.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107240184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3928/00989134-20210507-01
DO - 10.3928/00989134-20210507-01
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34044682
AN - SCOPUS:85107240184
SN - 0098-9134
VL - 47
SP - 7
EP - 12
JO - Journal of Gerontological Nursing
JF - Journal of Gerontological Nursing
IS - 6
ER -