Frail older adults often have poor oral health. In Sweden, oral care cards are designed to be used as an interprofessional tool for documenting the oral health status of older adults with extensive care needs and to describe oral care recommendations. The aim of this study was to explore nursing and dental professionals’ experiences and perceptions of oral care cards. Nursing and dental care staff were interviewed in groups or individually. The recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A theme emerged: Navigating an oral care responsibility that is not anchored in the nursing and dental care context. The theme was elucidated in three categories: “Accessibility and usefulness”, “Coordination between nursing and dental care”, and “Ethical approach”. The participants perceived a lack of surrounding frameworks and collaboration concerning oral care and the use of oral care cards. An oral care card could ideally facilitate interprofessional and person-centered oral care. However, oral health does not seem to have found its place in the nursing care context. Further research is needed to investigate how oral care cards ought to be developed and designed to support oral health care work.

Objective: To explore community‐dwelling older adults' expectations and perceptions of future needs and requests concerning assisted oral care from healthcare professionals in event of greater need for care. Background: Older adults with care needs often require support with oral care from care professionals, yet cognitive impairments may hinder their ability to express needs and preferences. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study with an inductive approach and purposive sample was conducted. Eighteen community‐dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years) receiving municipal home healthcare or home help services in southwest Sweden were interviewed individually. Information on oral health, oral care and anticipated future need for assisted oral care was gathered. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Ethical approval was obtained, and the study adhered to the COREQ checklist. Results: The analysis generated an overall theme: ‘Tensions between thoughts, envisioned standards and anticipated practicalities in future assisted oral care’ and three subthemes ‘Oral self‐care is the last stronghold of independence, with staff support considered under specific conditions’, ‘Sensitive dialogue enables access to assisted oral care’ and ‘Tough but necessary to accept assisted oral care’. Conclusion: There are tensions in community‐dwelling older adults' expectations of assisted oral care. A desire for independence and delayed assistance contrasts with the need for early communication before health decline impairs decision‐making to ensure autonomy and person‐centred care.