Table 1 Policy documents on oral health and healthy ageing (N = 17)

Canada: 2005 [40], Strategy

Improve overall OH of Canadians by identifying inequalities, disparities and barriers to achieving optimal OH

• Foster public awareness of the importance of OH

• Improve access to OH services

• Training and education for practitioners in OH care of elderly

• Follow-up the cases of dental neglect among elderly to improve access as well as reduce barriers to OH care

New Zealand: 2006 [41], Policy

Develop OH policy for older adults

• Determine the needs of 4 older groups: independent older adults, moderately dependent older adults, highly dependent older adults, and older adults from groups experiencing inequalities (both independently and as part of the other three groups)

• Building the OH workforce to aid in providing OH services to older adults and category-specific (such as independent older adults, moderately dependent older adults, highly dependent oral adults and older adults experiencing particular inequalities)

• OH needs and care to be explored

Uganda: 2007 [42], Policy/Guideline

Improve OH of Ugandans for general well-being and quality of life

• Integration of OH policy elements and strategies into programmes and policies of all sectors that have impact on community health including elderly

N/A

Barbados: 2009 [50], Policy

Improve OH of Barbadians by minimising the incidence of OH problems

• OH promotion and prevention,

• Human resource development and OH information system

• Provision of OH education and intervention to all age groups

• Prevention/early detection of oral cancers

• Promote linkage of OH through planned communications

Trinidad and Tobago: 2010 [43], Policy

Provide framework for implementation of OH strategies for the formulation of quality, acceptable, equitable and cost-effective OH care services

• Decrease rate of dental decay, oral cancer mortality rate;

• Decrease proportion of edentulous people over 65 years

• Elderly (65+ years) categorised as vulnerable group

• Need to be provided a full range of OH care services-preventive, diagnostic, curative, as well as referral whenever required

Japan: 2011 [52], Act

principles to promote the maintenance of oral health and also to implement measures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health in a comprehensive manner

• Promote dental and oral health

• Encourage people to work towards prevention of dental diseases in daily life

Canada: 2013 [46], Strategy

Provide a framework to review the OH gaps and to prevent/control oral diseases

• Good access to OH care for long term care residents

• Focus on daily oral hygiene, periodontal disease, routine health assessments, and treatment of failing dental restorations,

• Regular OH screening programs, preventive services as well as referrals for treatment in long term care facilities

Grenada: 2014 [51], Policy

Launch special OH care education programmes

• Educate elderly and their caregivers/families on preventing OH issues

• Special OH programme for older people (>  60) and caregivers /families of elderly person to educate them on preventing OH issues

Timor-Leste (East Timor): 2015 [39], Strategy

Promote OH and primary prevention as well as improve the quality, accessibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of the OH services

• Focus on fluoridation

• improve access to OH services; strengthen and utilize the manpower to promote OH; deliver quality OH care

• Making fluoridated toothpaste accessible and affordable to everyone, including the elderly

• Ensuring equality and accessibility to OH care

Malaysia: 2017 [44], Strategy

Address key areas of OH concerns to improve the overall OH of Malaysians

• Increase preventive OH behaviours among older populations

• Promote preventive dental visits among older populations

• Promote good OH practices among older population at home like brushing and flossing

Nigeria: 2017 [45], Policy/Strategy

Achieve optimal OH for Nigerians through sustainable awareness creation, early detection, and prompt treatment of OH diseases

• Integration and promotion of OH as a part of general health

Equitable, accessible, affordable, and appropriate OH for all

• Basic OH care services to be provided to priority populations that includes elderly

• Understanding barriers to OH care of the target population and focusing on facilitators to meet their needs

Australia: 2017 [47], Strategy

Improve overall well-being of Australians by improving OH* and reducing the burden of OH diseases

Older adults (65+ years) in priority populations

• Older adults should receive OH check-up

• Preventive OH care at least every 2 years

• Integrate OH risk assessment in routine general health assessment

Jamaica: 2017 [49], Policy

Ensure that every elderly individual should receive quality OH care at an affordable cost.

• Education to seniors and care providers as well as policy advisors on importance of OH

• Supporting long term care facilities with space for dental equipment to provide treatment on site

• Access to quality OH care at an affordable cost

• Emphasis on correlation of OH with general health to improve the overall quality of life

• Focus on preventive OH programmes for adults such as dental prophylaxis (cleaning), fluoride varnish, as well as oral cancer screening and OH education programmes.

Rwanda: 2019 [48], Strategy

Provide a strategic approach to prevent, treat, control, and reduce the burden of OH disease 2016–2024)

• Ensure universal (geographical and financial) access to quality OH services inclusive of preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and promotional OH care for all

• Introduce preventive OH measures to elders, who are categorised as priority population.

Cook Islands: 2019 [36], Strategy

Improve service delivery for elderly population

• Provide rehabilitative services to elderly.

• Improve oral and general well-being of the elderly

• Improve rehabilitative health services to elderly population

• Oral functions restored in people with compromised dentition

Ireland: 2019 [37], Policy

Ensure access to appropriate health care professionals to supplement primary OH care services for more vulnerable population, inclusive of the older population

• Access to OH services in primary health care setting

• Development of model of care specific to older population to access and navigate the health system in cost-effective setting

Vanuatu: 2019 [38], Policy

Improve access to quality, affordable, timely, person-centred, minimally invasive, and effective OH care services

• OH promotion, facility based OH services, equitable access, local effective OH strategies, information and research, collaboration between partners

N/A