20 CARE HOME PROFESSIONAL | August 2019TEC H TA L K JONATHAN PAPWORTH, PERSON CENTRED SOFTWARETechnology can support staff with
oral care by repeating and reinforcing
the guidance. CQC noted that detailed
oral health plans could result from a
care home using an electronic care
management system. Assessment
records and real-time electronic
evidence of care can populate a
personalised, up-to-date and accessible
care plan. My advice is to consider a
system provider that works closely
with oral care experts to ensure the
tools are up to date and in line best
practice. An informed system, along
with training, will mean that carers are
supported to provide the best quality of
care and support to maintain residents’
oral health and overall wellbeing.Jonathan PapworthDRIVING OUTSTANDING CAREMobile Care Monitoring software is
an excellent tool to continually monitor,
drive and measure improvement in
quality. Person Centred Software has
incorporated best practice Oral Health
Assessments, raising awareness of the
importance of daily mouth care.JANE PETERSON, FOUNDER OF
KNOWLEDGE ORAL HEALTHCAREBook a demo with us
Call 01483 357657
[email protected]
personcentredsoftware.comDownload a
free guide
Top Tips on Oral on
Care for People with
Dementia
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care-dementiaPCS_CHP Ad_175x116mm_July19_r4.indd 1 10/07/2019 09:23CQC SPOTLIGHT ON ORAL CARE
I
was shocked to hear the results
of CQC’s recent investigation into
oral care in care homes. The findings
highlighted there is a lack of access
to dentists and insufficient support
provided by care home staff.
Of 100 care homes, 73% of care plans
only partly covered or did not cover oral
health, and 47% were not training staffJONATHAN PAPWORTH, CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PERSON CENTRED
SOFTWARE, EXPLAINS WHY CQC IS FOCUSING ON ORAL CARE AND HOW TRAINING
AND TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP YOU COMPLY WITH ORAL CARE GUIDELINES.to support daily oral healthcare.
This has a drastic effect on residents’
health and wellbeing. Oral care is
important for maintaining residents’
overall health. Tooth decay has been
linked to heart disease, diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and
aspiration pneumonia. Poor oral care
can also have a distressing emotional
effect. The report mentions a resident
with dementia who “began to not
recognise her own reflection when she
didn’t ‘have her teeth in”.
CQC will be inspecting oral care more
rigorously and recommend mandatory
training in line with NICE guideline
NG48, which will build staff confidence
and knowledge with oral care.