A Traveling Dental Hygienist in the Northwest Suburbs Shares her Perspective
Even for those who are homebound, it is important to have a sense of normalcy to your morning and evening routine. Your loved one deserves to start the day fresh – that means clean clothes, a freshly made bed, a shower, and sparkling clean teeth.
Think of how much better you feel after caring for your body in this way. Your family deserves (and can have) the same, despite their illness!
Kim Jochheim and Full Circle Dental
One of the most exciting parts about having a home care agency is getting to know the individuals in the aging services network. Some days, someone like Kim Jochheim walks in our Arlington Heights office and enlightens us on yet another way we can improve the overall health of older adults. Her passion is regular, routine, dental care in older adults – take a look below to find out just why.
The Importance of Oral Care
According to Ms. Jochheim, Periodontal disease is linked to many conditions and illnesses that affect this vulnerable population. Heart disease, kidney disease, aspiration pneumonia, and even diabetes just to name a few. Kim tells us that our mouths are the gateway to the body and if unhealthy, can effect our overall heath.
In order to provide proper care to older adults, caregivers as well as family members need to be educated on the importance of oral care and how it affects so many conditions.
Your Assisting Hands Caregiver Can Help
Caregivers are a crucial part caring for seniors. Services like an in-home caregiver are here to help bridge the gap between oral health and overall health. Their ideas and suggestions help us elevate care for a better quality of life.
Kim Jochheim and her services are there for any questions our caregivers have and help train family and caregivers on correct daily oral care. Proper techniques in brushing and inter-proximal care are performed as well as the use of specialized aids to help achieve optimal results.
Working with Full Circle Dental
Full Circle Dental can provide services including weekly cleaning of all teeth by correct brushing and inter-dental cleaning. They provide cleaning of all removable appliances with oral tissue screening and behavioral issues.
Communicating with family members and DDS of record helping seniors bridge the gap to deliver a better quality of life. Their mission in addressing the oral-systemic link by proper cleaning and educating seniors on how oral health is related to overall health.
Dental Hygiene and Dementia
Assisting our clients who suffer from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to complete their everyday activities of daily living can be challenging when it comes to oral care. As Kim points out, a person can feel very vulnerable when someone is working so up close and personal.
A trained professional has techniques to work with the patient on a individual basis to help in the best way they can.
Contact Us
If you are concerned about your loved one’s dental hygiene or have any questions regarding the services provided by our in-home caregivers, feel free to contact Assisting Hands Home Care at (847) 499-1307.
