On October 30 last year, grandmother Baek Yeongim received home oral health care from Professor Kim Eunmi of the Department of Dental Hygiene at Gwangju Health University at an apartment in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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On November 12 last year, Professor Kim Eunmi from the Dental Hygiene Department at Gwangju Health University visited the home of Bae Youngim (75), who lives in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Professor Kim had Ms. Bae lie down in the living room and began to relax her oral muscles. At eighty years old, Ms. Bae only has two lower teeth left. Even with dentures, chewing food is not easy. Last summer, Ms. Bae fell while using a walker on a slope and spent two months in the hospital. After being discharged, swallowing food became even harder.

"Grandmother, shall we try the gum exercise now? Watch my mouth and follow along. You need to make the gum into a ping-pong ball shape." Professor Kim was not the only one watching Ms. Bae roll the gum in her mouth. Her three younger siblings, who visit every morning and evening, couldn't take their eyes off her.

On October 30 last year, grandmother Baek Yeongim received home oral health care from Professor Kim Eunmi of the Department of Dental Hygiene at Gwangju Health University at an apartment in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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Ms. Bae is a recipient of the 'Visiting Oral Health Care' program. Oral care is one of the 'Integrated Care' services for local seniors in Buk-gu, Gwangju. She can receive a total of 12 sessions, and this was Professor Kim's last visit. Ms. Bae's siblings planned to learn by watching and then provide the care themselves from now on.

While gum massage may be unfamiliar in Korea, in Japan it is a routine elderly service included in the long-term care insurance system. Professor Kim explained, "Even if the body recovers, if you can't chew food, you can't eat well, and then your health declines again. Just as you loosen tight muscles, we massage the gum muscles so they can eat better and stimulate the salivary glands to aid digestion." Ms. Bae moved her mouth for a long time. Then, between her wrinkled lips, she pushed out a round piece of gum. Her younger sister clapped her hands. "You did so well, sister! You need to eat well so we can keep living together!"

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Ms. Bae is more frail and petite than most people. She is less than 150cm tall and barely weighs over 30kg. For her, proper nutrition is more important than anything. Her cousin Bae Seongbeom looked at her with concern.

"It's been almost ten years since my sister got sick. After suffering a stroke, she collapsed and one side of her body became paralyzed. Since then, walking has been very difficult, and she often falls and gets hurt. She was classified as needing long-term care, and since I'm a care worker, I've been taking care of her myself. It takes at least thirty minutes by motorcycle to get to this house, and I often stop by the market to buy meat and vegetables. But since my sister has no teeth, she can't chew, so she couldn't eat well. But after consistently doing mouth exercises, she's gotten much better. Now, as long as I cut the side dishes into small pieces with scissors, she can finish a bowl of rice in no time."

On October 30 last year, grandmother Baeyoungim received home oral health care from Professor Kim Eunmi of the Department of Dental Hygiene at Gwangju Health University in an apartment in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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When she was young, Ms. Bae farmed in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do. Her husband passed away from illness, and she lived with her two sons. Then her first son drowned and passed away, and her second son died in a traffic accident. The life insurance payout for her son ended up in the hands of other relatives. Unable to read or write, Ms. Bae was helpless. Her younger sister Bae Youngsun was devastated. "After losing her children, my sister started to get sick. So I got her a place in the apartment where I live and brought her here. Living nearby means I can take care of her and she has someone to rely on."

On October 30 last year, grandmother Baek Yeongim is holding hands with Professor Kim Eunmi of the Department of Dental Hygiene at Gwangju Health University after receiving a home oral health care visit at an apartment in Bukgu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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Now, the three younger siblings take turns caring for Ms. Bae at set times in the morning, at lunch, and in the afternoon. Her cousin Bae Jongcheol, who had been sitting quietly in the corner of the living room, gently approached his sister. Although Jongcheol has a disability from a childhood head injury, he helps his sister go for a walk once a day. "Sister, you have to eat well." "... ." Ms. Bae, who is hard of hearing, looked at Jongcheol silently. Jongcheol spoke more clearly. "You. Have. To. Eat. Well." Only then did Ms. Bae reply. "That's right. I have to, so I can keep living here with you all."

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