@inproceedings{01HVTRA7MFBEXEJQDK7MY06PHQ,
  abstract     = {{Objectives:
Oral health of frail older adults in Belgium is often inadequate due to poor oral hygiene, limited access to professional oral care, and lack of interprofessional collaboration in primary care. Informal caregivers often provide a communication bridge between frail home-dwelling older persons (FHOP) and formal caregivers. This study aims to explore informal caregivers' experiences and perceptions concerning oral care for FHOP. Those could help to empower informal caregivers in their role.


Methods:
Data collection and analysis involved an iterative process of purposive sampling, interviews, and thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with informal caregivers of FHOP (aged 65+) – both with and without cognitive impairment. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was done by multiple researchers using NVivo.


Results:
Nineteen informal caregivers participated (6 males / 13 females, mean age: 70.2 years). The responsibility for FHOP's oral care shifted from FHOP to informal caregivers when the FHOP were no longer capable of doing so. Participants experienced barriers related to: (1) the search for a new dentist after retirement of the old one; (2) dental visits with FHOP, e.g. the informal caregiver's embarrassment of going to the dentist with FHOP because of poor oral health of the FHOP; (3) the role of non-oral health professionals, e.g. no knowledge about whether or not oral care is part of the tasks of home care workers; and (4) providing oral hygiene support to FHOP, e.g. lack of skills/knowledge to help with FHOP's oral hygiene.


Conclusions:
Although informal caregivers play an important role in supporting oral health care for FHOP, they experience barriers. Recognizing these barriers is important in interventions aiming for accessible oral health care for frail older adults. Informal caregivers need more guidance from several professionals (e.g. general practitioners, dentists, and home care workers) to address oral health care among FHOP.}},
  author       = {{Baele, Ellen and De Vleeschauwer, Aster and Hoste, Natalie and Poppe, Louise and Pype, Peter and Mertens, Fien and Janssens, Barbara}},
  booktitle    = {{2024 IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, Abstracts}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{New Orleans, LA, USA}},
  pages        = {{1}},
  title        = {{Frail older adults' oral care through informal caregivers' eyes}},
  url          = {{https://www.iadr.org/2024iags}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}