Karen Becerra, CEO and dental director of the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center in California, is aiming to be an "advocate for a new standard of care for seniors across San Diego and the country", as the Center marks its two-year anniversary. Becerra said her initial experience of volunteering at the Center allowed her to understand the difficulties faced by seniors in accessing affordable dental care, and why poor oral hygiene affected their nutrition. After a year of planning, including a survey of survey of 300 seniors, Becerra put in place a plan to offer a "holistic, patient-centered model of care" to those visiting the center, immediately addressing the transport and cost barriers linked to dental health care. The scheme has also brought treatments for cavities, gum disease, denture retention, dry mouth and oral cancer to those who previously could not have afforded them, due to either a fixed income, chronic conditions or other age-related social, physical barriers, which Becerra said create a "perfect storm" leading to oral health deterioration.
Karen Becerra, CEO and dental director of the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center in San Diego, is aiming to be an "advocate for a new standard of care for seniors across California and the country", as the Center marks its two-year anniversary. Becerra said her initial experience of volunteering at the Center allowed her to understand the difficulties faced by seniors in accessing affordable dental care, and why poor oral hygiene affected their nutrition. After a year of planning, including a survey of survey of 300 seniors, Becerra put in place a plan to offer a "holistic, patient-centered model of care" to those visiting the center, immediately addressing the transport and cost barriers linked to dental health care. The scheme has also brought treatments for cavities, gum disease, denture retention, dry mouth and oral cancer to those who previously could not have afforded them, due to either a fixed income, chronic conditions or other age-related social, physical barriers, which Becerra said create a "perfect storm" leading to oral health deterioration.