Publication

Abstract : Introduction Improved dental services have increased the retention of natural teeth and prostheses, creating complex oral care needs among older adults. Care managers are key in overseeing residents' oral health; their perceptions can inform strategies to improve geriatric oral health in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Objective To explore care managers' perceptions of the oral healthcare experiences and needs of older adults in RACFs. Methods A descriptive qualitative study, grounded in a constructivist paradigm, was conducted using the Socio‐Ecological Model to guide data collection and analysis at individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy levels. Ten care managers were purposively sampled and interviewed online using a semi‐structured guide. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's framework. Results Participants ( n = 10; age 28–59 years; mean age 41.7; 5 males, 5 females) were from urban and semi‐urban areas of western India. Five themes were identified: (1) A Moral Duty to Care—Personal Beliefs and Emotional Drivers of Oral Health Practice; (2) Navigating Relational Complexities—Care Amidst Resistance, Trust and Support; (3) Systemic Gaps and Adaptive Practices in Resource‐Limited Settings; (4) Disconnected Services and the Social Devaluation of Residents' Oral Health; and (5) Calls for Oral Health Care Delivery/Systemic Reforms—Embedding Oral Health in Aged Care Policy. Conclusion Care managers perceived residents' oral health as often being deprioritized in RACFs due to competing general health demands. An interdisciplinary care team, including a dentist, stronger policy support, and targeted training for care managers and staff, was strongly recommended to improve older adults' oral health outcomes in residential settings.