Oral Care and Huntington’s Disease (HD)

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Price

Free

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Course Description:

This course is designed to equip both formal and informal caregivers of individuals with Huntington’s Disease (HD) with the essential knowledge and skills for providing comprehensive care. While each Huntington Academy course focuses on a specific aspect of HD care provision, it’s important to recognize that HD challenges should be approached in a holistic way. As a result, many of the Huntington Academy courses are interconnected, with overlapping content that reinforces a comprehensive approach to care.

The present course explores the critical role of oral health specialists and informal caregivers in managing oral care for individuals with HD. It covers the challenges posed by HD symptoms to oral health, and emphasizes the importance of early intervention, tailored strategies, and consistent care to maintain good oral health and prevent complications. Participants will learn how both informal and formal caregivers can support individuals with HD through proactive, empathetic approaches, while also understanding the expertise required by oral care specialists to address the unique needs of individuals with HD.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Recognize the importance of early and consistent oral care in managing HD.
Understand how HD progression affects oral care and apply tailored strategies for different disease stages.
Implement early intervention strategies to build a strong foundation for long-term oral health.
Support informal caregivers in establishing oral care routines and advocating for oral care needs.
Guide formal caregivers in adapting care techniques to ensure comfort, safety, and effective oral hygiene to individuals with HD.
Develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges HD presents to oral health and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
Identify key features of an expert in HD oral care.
Gain insights from personal testimonies of family members and healthcare professionals to better understand the human impact of HD and improve care strategies.