Engaging Caregivers, Older Adults and Community Members in Oral Health Education: The MOTIVATE at Home Pilot Program

TL;DR

The MOTIVATE at Home program educates caregivers and older adults on oral health, aiming to reduce disparities and improve care for older adults living at home.

Contribution

The program introduces a community-based, accessible approach to oral health education that empowers caregivers and older adults.

Findings

86% of participants learned something new to improve their own oral health.

83% reported learning how to improve the oral health of someone they care for.

Participants emphasized the need for ongoing education on dental topics and affordable dental care.

Abstract

The MOTIVATE at Home (MAH) program brings education to caregivers so they are empowered to provide and/or support oral health care for older adults living at home, a growing population that disproportionately faces oral health disparities and health risks. The MAH pilot included statewide online and in-person educational sessions, learning stations at community-based organizations, and online “Ask the Dental Expert” sessions. Surveys were collected from 121 learners across MAH offerings with six additional qualitative interviews conducted with partnering community-based host sites. The audience ranged in age from 23-94 years old (M = 68 years) with 28% reporting a current caregiving role. The majority of participants (86%) learned something new that they could use to improve their own oral health and 83% of all participants, regardless of current self-reported care partner status, reported learning something new that they could use to improve the oral health of someone for who they provide care. Key findings demonstrate the value of a community-based accessible approach to education. Partners also reported that the MAH program was a valuable addition to their current offerings and collaborations. Findings also underscore the importance of using a brief and engaging format for online learning, integration of staff roles and support into in-person learning stations to encourage participation, and inclusion of “gamification” and “fun” to enhance learning. Participants identified additional ongoing education needs focused on specialty dental topics, the connection between health/mental health and oral health, along with an ongoing need for access to affordable dental care for older adults.