Overcoming Obstacles
Integrating Oral Healthcare in Cancer Care: A Societal and Healthcare Perspective for Healthy Ageing View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Shalya Anand, Djenana Jalovcic
Good oral health is integral to “overall health, comfort and basic dignity of older members of society”. In 2020, older adults (>65 years) represented 68% of the 19.3 million new cancer cases, and 70% of the 10 million cancer deaths while 280 million older adults suffer from oral diseases such as dental decay or caries, periodontal inflammation or gum disease, and loss of one or more teeth. Pre-existing diseases and polypharmacy make them more vulnerable to acute and chronic oral adverse effects, due to life-prolonging cancer treatments e.g. oral mucositis, xerostomia, osteonecrosis, infections, dysgeusia (taste alterations), neurotoxicity, decay, and infections. A narrative review to comprehensively synthesize and summarize the literature from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, resulted in the selection of 218 relevant articles. Results include literature highlighting the unique needs of older patients with cancer, oral complications due to cancer treatments, the role of integration of oral healthcare, barriers, and enablers for the integration of oral healthcare in cancer care from a healthcare and societal perspective. The literature identifies ageism with inequalities in cancer care as a prime limitation for efficient care for older adults with shared decision-making, along with factors such as interprofessional. education and collaborations, oral health literacy, and inclusion of oral healthcare in the global agenda. A ‘geriacentric’ value-based equitable healthcare system may enhance the effectiveness of cancer care by integrating oral healthcare in multidisciplinary teams to improve the quality of life and survivorship in the growing number of older patients with cancer.
Loneliness and Social Support of Older Persons during a Pandemic: Implications for Gerontological Social Work Services in Resource-constrained Settings View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Stephan Geyer, Barbra Teater
Research on the biopsychosocial effects of COVID-19 on older persons (60+ years) has predominately originated from the global north with a dearth of studies focusing on the loneliness and social support of older persons in the developing world. Applying a socio-ecological resilience perspective, this study aimed to determine and compare the loneliness and social support among South African older persons during COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was operationalised to collect data from community-dwelling older persons (n=139) and those residing in residential care (n=99) during COVID-19 through availability sampling. The 11-item loneliness scale (De Jong Gierveld & Van Tilburg, 1999) measured overall loneliness and two sub-scales. The 19-item MOS Social Support survey (Sherbourne & Stewart, 1991) was used to measure the availability of social support across four domains. Furthermore, the survey focused on social contact, number of close friends/relatives, socio-demographics, as well as subjective physical and mental health, respectively. Bivariate analyses (t-tests) were run to explore any statistically significant differences between the two groups. Community-dwelling older persons measured with marginally higher levels of loneliness. Interestingly, no statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups. Community-dwelling older persons measured higher on social support than their peers in residential care. Nonetheless, only affectionate social support was found to be significantly different (p<0.01). Based on the results, a bouquet of gerontological social services for resource-constrained settings are recommended to enable older persons to navigate towards reduced levels of loneliness and their desired social supports during future pandemics.
