Caring for Smiles: Guide for Care Homes

Developing good oral health care plans for residents in long-term care can be challenging.  To assist care home staff in delivering good oral health care, the NHS Health Scotland has developed the guide Caring for Smiles: Guide for Care Homes.  This guide is part of a series of oral health care pamphlets aimed at dependent older people, caregivers and long-term care staff. The guide for Care Homes includes information for staff on why oral health care is important, practical skills required to deliver good oral care and information on creating care plans and recording daily care.  It also includes sections on care planning and delivering oral health care to persons with dementia or dysphagia and for residents in palliative or end-of-life care. For more information and to download the booklet, please visit http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/media/7460397/caringforsmilescarehomes2013.pdf.