PARSIPPANY, N.J. — August 21, 2017 — Access to regular dental care is a critical element of healthy living, but it can be out of reach for many senior citizens, particularly those reliant on Medicare. As August 21 marks National Senior Citizens Day, Delta Dental of New Jersey is proud to support area organizations that are committed to providing charitable dental services to senior citizens and other at-risk community members who would otherwise go unserved.
Through the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, Inc., organizations from both New Jersey and Connecticut receive direct financial support to help enable their missions.
“The reality for many senior citizens is that they have limited options for dental care,” said Dr. Gene Napoliello, President, Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation. “Solving oral health care challenges is at the heart of our mission, and we are proud to partner with organizations dedicated to improving the lives of senior citizens in their communities.”
In partnership with the Delta Dental Foundation, the following organizations are making a vital difference to the communities they serve:
Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Preventative & Comprehensive Dental Care for the Underserved
Located in Neptune, NJ, Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Dental Clinic is part of the facilities’ Family Health Center and provides coordinated, comprehensive care in an outpatient setting to the underserved population. This year, the Dental Clinic has facilitated 2,017 patient visits. Of those, Delta Dental’s grant has supported 453 visits. Nearly 87 percent of these patients have no insurance.
The Dental Clinic has seen a 42 percent increase in senior citizen dental care compared to the same time period in 2016 and is on track to achieve its goal of providing comprehensive dental care to at least 200 unduplicated seniors over the course of the year.
Community Health Center, Inc.
Located in Middletown, CT, Community Health Center, Inc., offers dental services in 14 fixed locations across Connecticut and 200 sites where their mobile dental services are offered, such as at schools and homeless shelters. CHC employs 14 dental providers, including dentists and hygienists.
In the past 12 months, CHC has provided dental care to more than 1,800 patients 65 years and older. Of those, 57 percent were uninsured, and 40 percent were covered under the Delta Dental Foundation support.
Morristown Medical Center’s Senior Smiles Program
The Morristown, NJ Medical Center has been providing dental care for underserved community members since the 1960s, and has partnered with Delta Dental for the past 10 years. The program has grown to average more than 9,000 patient visits seen in a year while eliminating its waiting list, including more than 100 eligible seniors who come from all over the state for comprehensive care.
The Senior Smiles Program also holds screenings for at-risk population and seniors in the community. The program’s next screening will be held September 9 at Headquarters Hotel, as part of the Community Health Day in Morristown.
About the Delta Dental Foundation
Since 1986, our philanthropic arm, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, Inc., has worked to promote and assist educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, as well as access to dental care programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good oral health and to improve dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Foundation also provides financial support to various organizations throughout New Jersey, as well as Connecticut, to reach underserved populations, specifically children, developmentally disabled persons, and seniors.
The Mission of the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation is: To improve the oral health of New Jersey and Connecticut residents by providing charitable contributions to solve oral health care challenges.
Our Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization, and we pride ourselves on the variety of programs we have instituted or supported that aid the needy, educate the community, and assist worthwhile oral health related organizations. To date, our Foundation has awarded more than $1 6.7 million toward dental care for the underinsured and uninsured and dental education programs. The Foundation funds projects only in New Jersey and Connecticut.
About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey’s leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than 1.6 million people through contracts with groups in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a newly licensed insurer that writes dental coverage on an insured basis, and Delta Dental of New Jersey administers self-funded dental benefit programs. For more information, visit www.deltadentalnj.com.
