Teams at two Essex residential homes are celebrating their success after passing their Lifelong Smiles (LLS) accreditation. Aveley Lodge Residential Care Home and Lime Court Residential Home have recently been awarded with a certificate after meeting a set of standards on providing good oral health care.
Recently launched in Colchester and Tendring, Community Dental Services CIC (CDS)’s LLS accreditation works with residential home settings to help improve oral health care for residents. As part of the scheme, CDS provides a range of materials and oral health training to staff to increase their knowledge and confidence in providing oral care advice; whilst residents are encouraged to take part in oral health activities. Residential homes also review the food and drinks they provide to ensure that healthier, tooth-friendly options are always available.
Toyah Khan, Oral Health Improvement Manager for CDS in Essex said: “Achieving an LLS accreditation means the home is following best practice in line with CQC standards and really prioritises the oral health needs of residents which leads to improved nutrition, wellbeing and happiness. Unique approaches are tailored for each home, with CDS supporting and encouraging initiatives like notice boards, oral health days and cooking tooth friendly meals.”
Suzanne Moore, Home Manager at Lime Court Care Home, who was pleased to be awarded the accreditation, said: “As a manager, I got a lot from this. It highlighted any parts of oral care that were not documented. It has raised oral care to a regular discussion, and the Oral Health Champions are keeping on top of checking brushes and equipment, ensuring they are available. This massively benefits our home – oral care is so underrated and yet such a hot topic for the CQC. I now know that this is being completed and completed well”.
The accreditation consists of six standards for the care home setting to work towards to achieve optimal oral health outcomes for residents. These standards focus on creating an oral health policy; using the recommended initial assessment tool; creating individual oral care plans and identifying an Oral Health Champion for the home.
For further information on how CDS supports residentials homes and the training it offers, visit: www.communitydentalservices.co.uk/oral-health-improvement/
