The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental California, has launched a program to fund initiatives addressing the oral health of older adults.
A December report from the National Institutes of Health found adults aged 65 years and older are the most critically underserved and vulnerable population for oral health care in the U.S.
The multiyear program will fund community-based coalitions working to improve the oral health of older adults in the U.S. by promoting the connection between oral health and overall health and improving access to and equity in care, according to an April 26 news release. Its other goals include identifying and addressing the systemic causes of poor oral health among older adults, creating a model for community-driven oral health solutions and improving the quality of life for older adults by reducing oral care disparities.
The organization will work with partners who are actively assisting historically underserved communities and improving oral health outcomes. Its first partners are the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C., and Mary's Center, a federally qualified health center with locations in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.