Gwangju City Launches Home Visit Oral Health Service for Seniors

Pilot Project by Ministry of Health and Welfare: Oral Disease and Health Checkups
Implemented by Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu Public Health Centers Until October
Gradual Expansion to All Districts Next Year After Evaluation

Oral Health Service Provision Procedure. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on May 11 that it will provide a "visiting customized oral health management service" for six months, from May until October, to homebound seniors aged 65 and older in the Buk-gu and Gwangsan districts who have difficulty moving around.

This project is being promoted after Gwangju City was selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s public contest for the "Senior Home Visit Oral Health Management Pilot Project." Dental care teams from the public health centers in Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu will visit homes directly to provide oral health checkups and preventive care.

Oral health is closely linked not only to dental diseases but also to overall health, including nutritional status, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia, making it a key factor in determining quality of life in old age. However, seniors often face difficulties visiting dental clinics due to declining physical function and financial constraints, which makes it hard for them to receive regular oral care.

Gwangju City plans for public health center dentists and dental hygienists to visit homes directly and provide customized services such as: oral health assessments, establishing individual oral care plans, fluoride application, oral hygiene education, and prevention of dry mouth.

The service is available to homebound seniors aged 65 and older living in Buk-gu or Gwangsan-gu who have difficulty moving or performing activities of daily living (ADL). To receive the service, eligible citizens must apply through their local public health center.

To ensure smooth operation of the project, the Gwangju Public Healthcare Support Group and the regional responsible medical institution, Gwangju Christian Hospital, will provide practical training. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute will provide standard guidelines, expert consultation, and technical support.

This pilot project will be operated by the Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu public health centers until October. After performance evaluation and guideline advancement by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the plan is to gradually expand the service to all district public health centers in Gwangju starting next year. The city expects that this project will make a substantial contribution to preventing oral diseases and improving overall health among the elderly.

Bae Kang-sook, head of the Health and Hygiene Division, said, "By providing oral health services directly to seniors with mobility difficulties, we expect to help support a healthy old age. We will continue to expand customized health services to promote citizen health in the future."