A Visit to El Safwa elderly home care

29 Nov 2022

The Community Service and Environmental Affairs Committee, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine organized a field trip to El Safwa elderly home care (El Obour branch) on Saturday 19th of November 2022. A group of 4th year students and staff members from the faculty joined the trip.

The purpose of the visit was to raise the awareness of the residents, employees, and the care givers both males and females regarding dental health and how to improve the oral health care of the residents of the elderly home care as well as oral and dental examination by the students.

During the visit, the students presented a live demonstration using toothbrushes and simulating dental casts to show the residents the proper technique for tooth brushing. The students examined all the residents, employees, and the caregivers both males and females, and each one was individually given a diagnostic card with the oral/ dental problem found and it’s treatment plan to facilitate their treatment later at the MIU Dental Clinic Complex. Free transportation from and back to the elderly home care was also offered.

Students chatted with the elders and took photos with them the whole visit, allowing them to ask all the questions regarding oral and dental health. Fifty toothbrushes and toothpastes were gifted to the residents. Also, food elements were given to the elderly home care together with six blankets that were purchased and given upon their request.

Questionnaires were distributed on the employees and caregivers to determine their dental health needs and to evaluate the provided program and measure their satisfaction with the visit. Another questionnaire was also distributed to the students and staff members participating to evaluate the visit and its outcome.