Background <p>This study explored the experiences and needs of inpatients with late-life depression for current oral health management and identified barriers across contextual and individual levels to provide references and suggestions for oral health management programs conducted by patients and hospitals.</p> Methods <p>Qualitative methodologies were used to conduct in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select inpatients with late-life depression at a tertiary specialized psychiatric hospital in Guangzhou, China as the research subject. A thematic analysis involving an inductive approach was used to identify and analyse the data. In total, seventeen patients were interviewed. The findings were mapped to Andersen’s behavioral model of health service use.</p> Results <p>Four major themes emerged: Deficiencies in hospital-provided management; A positive attitude towards oral health coexists with undesirable situations; Difficulties in self-management, and Patients’ demand for oral health management. Collectively, these barriers discouraged oral health behaviors and undermined oral health outcomes.</p> Conclusion <p>Our study revealed contextual and individual barriers that undermine oral health management among inpatients with late-life depression, resulting in poor outcomes and unmet needs. Multi-level strategies for improving care are required, including patient educational programs, expanded insurance coverage, enhanced staff training, optimized ward environments and systems, and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration to embed preventive and therapeutic oral health services into routine psychiatric care.</p>