Resource Center

This resource hub from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research includes up-to-date information on significant oral health concerns for older adults, including dry mouth, taste disorders, diabetes, oral cancer, saliva and salivary gland disorders, burning mouth syndrome, and gum disease. Information sheets for caregivers on brushing, flossing, dry mouth, and finding low-cost dental care for older adults can be downloaded and/or ordered.

The Community Guide to Adults Oral Health Program Implementation (Oral Health Guide), funded by the Administration for Community Living and the Office on Women's Health, aims to help groups at the state and local levels start or enhance their own oral health programs for older adults. Here, community-based entities can find key tips, case studies, interactive tools, and other sources of support for creating cost-effective, sustainable programs.

This web page from the Diverse Elders Coalition includes education aimed at advocating for policies and programs that improve aging in communities of racially and ethnically diverse people; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender people. The web page includes current and past policy advocacy campaigns, public education, personal narratives, and blog posts. Topics include Alzheimer's disease and dementia, HIV/AIDS, immigration reform, Medicare and Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act. Caregiver and COVID-19 information are also provided.

This comprehensive collection from the Gerontological Society of America includes resources on oral health and for all health and health-related disciplines. Organizations and intitiaves, publications and presentations, infographics, caregiver resources, and research opportunities and funding are included in the collection.

Source: Gerontological Society of America, 2020
https://www.geron.org/programs-services/alliances-and-multi-stakeholder-collaborations

This website from the Administration of Community Living aims to help communities, governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and private businesses start or enhance community-based oral health programs for older adults. With two main components, a searchable database of community-based oral health programs and The Community Guide to Adult Oral Health Program Implementation (Oral Health Guide), this website offers access to essential tools for planning, designing, and implementing a new program or replicating or expanding an existing program.

The CDC's Healthy Brain Initiative, Road Map for Indian Country, is the first-ever public health guide focused on dementia in American Indian and Alaska Native communitities. The Road Map is designed to support discussion about dementia and caregiving within tribal communities and to encourage a public health approach - as part of a larger holistic response.

This article discusses the important questions and documents regarding estate planning in older adults. It also discusses what one should know about wills and trusts along with how trusts and estate lawyers can help in the planning process.

Source: Caring.com, 2023.
https://www.caring.com/caregivers/

This newsletter from the Geronotological Society of America provides an overview of linkages between oral health, systemic conditions, functional abilities, and healthy aging. In addition to calling attention to the importance of oral health, this publication highlights special oral health challenges now faced by the world's rapidly aging population. It provides a valuable and up-to-date resource for clinicians, researchers, educators, and policy-makers across disciplines to quickly bring them up to speed on key areas of concern in geriatric oral health.

This web page from the Minnesota Dental Association shares information and resources for older adults their caregivers related to the importance of keeping teeth and gum tissues clean and healthy as we age. In addition, a comprehensive video series and companion workbook from the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota's Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program are included, which focus on providing oral care in long-term care environments.

This web page from the American Dental Association provides information related to oral health for people ages 60 and up. Some topics include healthy habits, nutrition tips, dry mouth, dentures, implants, medications, diabetes, cancer, smoking, and gum disease.