April 28, 2011
Dr. Mary McNally has been awarded a grant of $20,000 from the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network. The funds will be used to develop and disseminate resources, such as video, print and web-based materials, to educate care-providers and family members involved in providing oral care to persons with dementia. Dr. McNally's research in the Oral Care in Continuing Care Settings study, reveals that providing oral assessments and mouth care to persons with dementia is extremely challenging for care-providers. People with dementia are often resistant to mouth care. The number of continuing care residents with dementia is increasing as is the number of elderly who are retaining their natural teeth. As a result there is a great and growing need for tools and resources to help care-providers in providing oral care to this population. Dr. McNally's team will work in collaboration with members of the Challenging Behaviour Program, staff educators from Northwoodcare Inc., and Nova Scotia's Capital Health District Eastern Shore TriFacilities to develop the resources.