GSKCH has awarded a $250,000 grant to the American Dental Association to examine access to dental care and disparities in oral health among older adults. These topics are expected to become critical health issues as the baby boomer generation begins to retire in 2011.

The grant enables the ADA to provide funding to individuals or groups to develop innovative programs that improve dental care for older Americans.

"Oral care for older adults is of great concern since many older Americans lack oral health education and access to dental care," said Sydney Rollock, vice president of marketing for Oral Care. "The problem is exacerbated when considering the limited resources of many low-income and underserved minority groups in the U.S."

The partnership is one of the first efforts nationally to examine dental care and access issues among the elderly. "The older adult population will expect more from life and living than previous generations," said Rollock. "GSK's support positions us as the premier provider of oral healthcare products for older Americans that will transcend our entire Oral Health Portfolio."

One of GSK's first endeavors was supporting an Elders' Oral Health Summit held September 13 and 14 at Boston University. "Disparities in oral health and issues surrounding access to dentistry for older Americans, the fastest growing US population segment, are critical issues facing the dental profession" said Dr. Ronald Rupp, GSKCH senior manager of professional relations. "This event marked the first time that the nation's leaders in elder dental health gathered together to focus on the issue with attendees participating panel discussions and breakout sessions that examined prepaid dental insurance plans for retirement, oral health literacy, HMO models and other important topics."

The ADA partnership and the Elders' Summit are terrific examples of how GSK works to improve the quality of life by helping people to do more, feel better and live longer.