For cognitively impaired, care poses a challenge

Excerpt from Delaware Online: (click for entire article)

Going to the dentist isn’t likely to top the list of fun ways to spend your time. But for people with cognitive, developmental and physical disabilities, the experience can be downright frightening, from the dental tools to the unfamiliar faces to the fingers poking around their mouth.

But with a little practice, a seat in the dentist’s chair doesn’t have to be a scary event. That’s the goal at Practice Without Pressure, a nonprofit organization in Bear that helps patients with disabilities and their families prepare for medical procedures.

Through practice sessions that introduce and explain the various equipment, procedures and participants involved in a dental visit, patients are better prepared, more cooperative and less likely to need sedation or restraints, which can be traumatic, said Karen Bashkow, senior director of programming at Practice Without Pressure.

Comments

[Bert Cave]

Yes, dentist, doctor or many other types of service can be extremely stressful. It is good that care providers are starting to recognize it and accomodate.