Priority for Oral Health in Residential Facilities

The older adult population is increasing dramatically: according to the World Health Organization, the number of adults aged 60 and over is expected to double to 2.1 billion globally by 2050 (“Aging and Health,” WHO Fact Sheet, Oct. 1, 2022, https://bit.ly/WHO-ageing). As of 2018, 1.7 million older adults resided in long-term care and assisted living environments. The residents living in these care facilities have high rates of cognitive decline, depression, and serious mental illness, and they often have six or more chronic conditions compared with community-dwelling older adults (Health Aff [Millwood] 2024;43:674–681).