From oral health screenings to games and conversations across language barriers, third-year dentistry students discovered that compassionate care begins with making people feel seen, heard and valued.
Laughter, friendly competition and conversations filled Katutura Old Age Home in Windhoek on 1 October 2026, as third-year students from the University of Namibia (UNAM) School of Dentistry spent a morning with residents to commemorate World Elderly Day.
Accompanied by their lecturers, the students combined oral health education and screening with games and social interaction, demonstrating that caring for older people extends beyond clinical treatment to include companionship, dignity and human connection.
For Bachelor of Dentistry student Reginald Shamalaza, one of the most memorable aspects of the visit was seeing how students bridged language barriers to ensure everyone could participate.
“Most residents spoke more Afrikaans than English, and watching our Afrikaans-speaking classmates step in to translate meant that no one was left out,” he said.
Shamalaza described the experience as warm and humbling, noting that residents’ enthusiasm during games such as dominoes, Ludo, Jenga and chess highlighted the value of spending time with them.
“The residents’ enthusiasm and laughter during the games showed how much time and attention mean to them,” he added.
Chanice Candice Timbo, a third-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student who joined the media team to photograph and record the outreach, also participated in games and helped translate for her colleagues.
“What stood out most was how much the residents enjoyed having people spend time with them, listen to them and enjoy their company,” Timbo said. She observed that the visit offered residents a welcome change from their usual routine.
Beyond the social activities, the outreach provided practical oral healthcare services. Students educated residents on toothbrushing, flossing, denture care and the relationship between oral health and general well-being.
Under the supervision of lecturers, approximately 16 to 20 residents received oral health screenings. The team also recorded the details of residents requiring further dental attention to facilitate appropriate referrals and follow-up care. Toothbrushes and toothpaste were distributed to support daily oral hygiene.
For Shamalaza, seeing older people’s needs firsthand reinforced lessons learned in the classroom, particularly the importance of denture care, maintaining oral hygiene and ensuring that screening leads to appropriate treatment.
Both students left with a deeper appreciation of the human side of their profession. Shamalaza emphasized that respect and compassion are as important as clinical skills, while Timbo reflected on the value of simply being present with others.
The visit offered the students an opportunity to apply their training in a community setting while learning to approach patients with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
Through the World Elderly Day outreach, UNAM’s School of Dentistry demonstrated that community healthcare involves more than screenings and treatment. Sometimes, a conversation, a shared game or the effort to speak a language someone understands can make the difference between receiving a service and feeling genuinely cared for.
