Vzdrževanje ustne higiene starostnika - Jesenšek, Tatjana (T. Jesenšek, 2010)
S primerno ustno higieno lahko pri starostniku preprečimo številne bolezni v sami ustni votlini. Istočasno se lahko s pravilno ustno higieno izognemo mnogim komplikacijam in razvoju sistemskih bolezni, katerih povzročitelji so bakterije, ki jih srečamo v zobnih oblogah. Bolezni kot so parodontoza, spremembe ustne sluznice in druge pogosto spremljajo starostnika. Pri preprečevanju obolenj in vzdrževanju primerne ustne nege ima pomembno vlogo medicinska sestra, ki mora biti še posebej pozorna v zdravstveno vzgojnem delovanju s posameznim starostnikom v zvezi z ustno higieno. Empirični del diplomskega dela govori o vzdrževanju ustne higiene starostnikov v starosti od 75 let do 89 let. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali, da starostniki še niso seznanjeni s tehnikami čiščenja zob in ustne votline. Prav tako večina starostnikov zajetih v raziskavi ne pozna dodatnih pripomočkov za čiščenje ustne votline. Negovalno osebje bi moralo nameniti več svojega časa in volje za dodatno informiranje starostnikov, saj je raziskava pokazala, da starostniki premalokrat na dan izvajajo ustno nego. Ugotavljamo, da več kot polovica starostnikov, ki je sodelovala v raziskavi, ne želi dodatnih informacij povezanih z ustno higieno. Medicinska sestra naj s svojim strokovnim znanjem starostnike motivira za izvajanje optimalne ustne nege, demonstrira načine ustne nege in kontrolira njeno izvedbo. With appropriate dental care with elderly people we can prevent many diseases in oral cavity. At the same time we can avoid many complications and development of systematic diseases, causes of which are bacteria that we meet in teeth coating, by taking proper care of oral hygiene. Diseases like parodontosis, changes in oral mucosal and others often affect elderly people. Nurse has an important role of preventing illness and maintaining proper oral care. Also, she has to give attention to functioning of health education with individual elderly person about oral hygiene. Empirical part of the diploma is about maintaining oral hygiene of elderly people between ages of 75 and 89. Results of research show that elderly people are still not acquainted with techniques of cleaning teeth and oral cavity. Also, most of elderly people who participated in research do not know additional tools for cleaning oral cavity. Nursing staff should devote more of their time and will to offer additional information to elderly people, because research shows that elderly people do not practice enough oral hygiene daily. It was discovered that most of the elderly people who participated in research do not want to know more about oral hygiene. A nurse with her professional knowledge motivates elderly people to practice optimal oral hygiene, demonstrates different ways of oral hygiene, and supervises its course.