May 1st 2013

1. Saskatchewan Oral Health Professions (SOHP)
Seniors Oral Health and Long Term Care Strategy

2. How can we ensure that all seniors and
residents of long term care homes have access
to oral health care as a standard of care?
Together we can make a difference

3. Update…since October 2012
Meetings:
March 22, 2013
Laura Carney, SLP – Rural LTC

4. Plan - Early 2012 to present

Review Documents/Programs from around the world and decide on
direction – “Made in Saskatchewan” model

Develop and Revise Strategy and Recommendations
Revised based on feedback received at May 2012 OHC meeting

Apply for Funding – Received from SK Oral Health Professions Group

Documents to be developed – in process
 Permission/Agreement with Australia established

Public Health Observatory – Research Unit asked to provide data on
Aspiration Pneumonia, Cardio Pulmonary Disease and Diabetes to
assess potential savings to government health spending

Pilot the training resource/Portfolio Training and Consultation with Long
Term Care Homes

Strategy and Recommendations to government

5. Vision
Oral health is an integral part of the
overall health of residents in long term
care homes and seniors in the community.

6. Recommendations
1. That the Saskatchewan Government, Ministry of Health
endorses the Saskatchewan Seniors Oral Health and Long
Term Care Strategy developed by the Saskatchewan Oral
Health Professions collaboratively with Long Term Care.

7. Recommendations
2. That legislated Oral Health Care Policies/Standards for Long Term
Care and Personal Care Homes are established based on best practice
to strive for optimal oral and overall health for the people of
Saskatchewan. Policies should ensure that every senior and long
term care resident has the right and access to oral health care
services:
2.1
An individualized oral health care plan
2.2
Basic oral hygiene supplies
2.3 Daily oral hygiene
2.3
Professional dental services
2.4
Oral health record included within the resident’s health record
2.5 Dental recommendations/orders are followed
Note: As per Section 23 of the current Personal Care Home Regulation, each
resident receive a dental examination, as necessary.

8. Recommendations
3. That an Oral Health Coordinator (OHC)(s), who is a
licensed oral health professional, should be
employed in each health region to facilitate the
delivery of initial oral assessments, dental
examinations and treatment, daily oral hygiene for
residents and oral health education. The Oral Health
Coordinator will work collaboratively with the long
term care, multi-disciplinary team to improve the oral
and overall health of residents.

9. Recommendations
4. That upon entry into a Long Term Care (LTC) home, an initial
oral assessment must be completed by a licensed oral health
professional, through the general/medical consent provided
by the long term care home.
4.1
Oral assessments should be routinely performed every 6
months thereafter, by an oral health professional or a health
care professional trained in oral health.
4.2 Non-oral health professionals performing oral health
assessments or care will receive appropriate training
developed by this project.
4.3 All training will be provided by oral health professionals.

10. Recommendations
5. That initial oral assessments may trigger a referral to a dentist for
a full dental examination to include:
5.1 Personal client record, including consent for dental examination
5.2 Review of medical and dental history
5.3 Complete examination of the oral cavity, to include:
5.3.1 Assessment of hard and soft tissues
5.3.2 Assessment of oral hygiene care
5.3.3 Oral cancer screening
5.3.4 Denture Assessment
5.4 Treatment plan/progress notes
5.5 Estimate/Consent for financial responsibility
5.6 Consent for treatment

11. Recommendations
6. Treatment needs based on the dental examination, may be
provided by dentists, denturists, dental hygienists, dental therapists
and/or dental assistants. Residents may access dental services
through their personal oral health professional or through dental
services as available through the long term care home.
7. That the Saskatchewan government establish a safety net program
for more equitable access to oral health services for low income
residents (similar to Ministry of Health Supplementary Health/Family
Health Benefits or Alberta’s Dental Assistance for Seniors Program
through which low income seniors are eligible for up to $5000 every
5 years for those aged 65 and older).
8. That the Saskatchewan Seniors Oral Health and Long Term Care
Strategy is incorporated into post-secondary educational health
training programs, orientation, and continuing professional
development (i.e. for physicians, nurses, care aides, etc).

12. Recommendations
9. That the standard for new long term care homes includes
provision for a treatment room suitable for a variety of health
professionals including access to portable dental equipment
to facilitate dental treatment.
10. That the implementation of a Saskatchewan electronic health
record includes an oral health component.
11. That surveillance, evaluation and continuous quality
improvement be performed on an ongoing basis to
demonstrate improved health and oral health status
outcomes.

13. Next Steps

Documents to be finalized/completed
 Vidya Shanmugam

Public Health Observatory – Research Unit asked to provide data
on Aspiration Pneumonia, Cardio Pulmonary Disease and Diabetes
to assess potential savings to government health spending

Pilot the training resource/Portfolio Training and Consultation with
Long Term Care Homes

Strategy and Recommendations to government