Homebound older adults’ experiences with home-based oral healthcare services: a qualitative study

Oral health is vital to healthy aging, yet empirical studies have reported persistent oral healthcare disparities among individuals above 65 years. Home-based oral healthcare services have the potential to facilitate homebound older adults access to oral health care. To explore the experiences of homebound older adults with a home-based oral healthcare pilot project in Montreal. A qualitative study using an interpretive description methodology was conducted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit study participants, who received home-based oral healthcare services via the pilot project. Data was collected using audio-recorded, virtual, semi-structured interviews, 45–60 min in length and continued until saturation was achieved. Qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic approach. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) for reporting qualitative studies were followed. Eleven interviews (8 F and 3 M, mean age: 69.5 years) were conducted, and five major themes emerged from the qualitative analyses: perceptions and perspectives about oral health, oral healthcare hurdles for homebound older adults, appreciation for home-based oral healthcare services, challenges related to home based-oral health care services, and strategies to enhance home-based oral healthcare services. Pain was a common problem among older adults, who faced some mobility and financial barriers in accessing to oral healthcare. Participants appreciated the home-based oral healthcare services and reported a high level of satisfaction as it met their expectations. They provided useful recommendations for the future implementation and scale-up of home-based oral healthcare services. The findings of this study highlight the importance of home-based oral healthcare services from the perspective of homebound older adults. The patients’ positive experience indicates its clinical relevance and the importance of expanding such programs. The participants’ recommendations could inform future policy decisions and guide the scaling up of the home-based oral healthcare services.