Identifying Elder Abuse: The Role of Dental Care Professionals and Neglected Oral Health

Motiv till studien

With increasing age, older adults often experience declining health, social isolation, and increased dependency on caregivers, making them particularly vulnerable to elder abuse. In 2023, every fifth resident in Sweden was 65 years or older, a demographic expected to grow in the coming years, with projections indicating that by 2070, more than a quarter of the Swedish population will be over 65. As the number of older adults continues to rise, the risk of elder abuse increases accordingly, highlighting the need for greater awareness and preventive measures. While healthcare professionals play a crucial role in identifying and addressing elder abuse, the role of dental care professionals in these efforts has been largely overlooked.

Material och metod

• Study 1 - Scoping Review:A systematic search in the databases DOSS, Cinahl, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus will be conducted to mapp the existing knowledge on how dental care professionals identify elder abuse in their practice.
• Study 2 – Quantitative Study:A cross-sectional study will employ data from the Swedish National Dental Health Register and the APPEAL project at Linköping university to explore the correlation between neglected oral health and elder abuse among older adults. The study will analyze patterns of elder abuse based on self-reported experiences, and clinical signs of elder abuse.
• Study 3 and 4 - Qualitative Studies:Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with dental care professionals (dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants) to understand their experiences with identifying and addressing elder abuse. Additionally, qualitative interviews will be conducted with older adults who have experienced oral health neglect, focusing on its impact on their everyday lives.

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