252118 Public health in an aging society: How can we improve the oral health of older adults?

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 10:30 AM

Nadereh Pourat, PhD , Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health/UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
     
The public health paradigm has shifted from solely focusing on primary prevention among the young to including secondary and tertiary prevention among the older population. However, the importance of oral health in overall well-being and quality of life of older adults has not been sufficiently incorporated into the paradigm of public health in an aging society. This presentation will establish the context for this session which will address how such a shift can be implemented by addressing the role of 1) surveillance of oral health needs or older adults, 2) public health efforts focusing on older adults, 3) system level barriers in receipt of oral health care, and 4) and public health policies that can institute systematic change.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of oral health in the paradigm of public health in an aging society.

Keywords: Oral Health, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Director of Research at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Improved Oral Health for the Older Adult: Recommendations and Approaches for National and State Action
See more of: Oral Health