Is the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy a dementia friendly environment?

Dementia is a progressive disease characterised by a set of symptoms that include memory loss, changes in mood, language and behaviour and problems with reasoning, attention and communication (Alzheimer’s Society, 2022). More than 944,000 people in the UK are living with dementia with prevalence among older people of 7.1% (Alzheimer’s Research, 2022).

92% of people living with dementia have at least one other health condition and 45% have four or more other health conditions, including oral disease. Dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss and denture-related problems, are the most frequent reported problems attributed mainly to the effects of cognitive impairment on oral hygiene capability and acceptance of help from others in supporting oral hygiene (Moosajee et al, 2015).

Evidence shows that healthcare environments can have a significant impact on patients with cognitive problems, leading to additional distress and confusion. Thus, dementia patients require environments that are safe and secure to promote their dignity and independence (Waller et al., 2015). A dementia-friendly healthcare setting is the practice and organisation of care that is aware of the impact dementia has on a person’s ability to engage with services and manage their health (Handley et al., 2017). Dental healthcare services should aim to create a calm and secure treatment environment and improvements can be made to the environment of the practice to increase the accessibility to older people including those living with dementia (Kerr et al. 2020).

Currently, evidence exploring dementia-friendly environments within dental settings is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how to create dementia-friendly environments in the local context of the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy (UPDA). Findings from this study will be used to inform the development of a local guide for the management of people with dementia.