Navigating Hospital Stays For Dementia Patients: A Guide For Caregivers

By Silver Sitters

Hospitalization can be a challenging experience for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Research indicates that dementia patients are more likely to experience negative outcomes after hospital treatment. Even staying for

a few days at a hospital can complicate dementia symptoms and increase the risk of complications such as falls and malnutrition among seniors.

Consequently, here are some of the ways outlined below for the family members and caregivers to ease hospitalization for seniors.

Things To Do To Make Hospitalization Easier For Seniors With Dementia

Be Prepared: Whether a senior has an appointment scheduled with a doctor or ends up in the emergency room unexpectedly, it’s crucial to have essential provisions ready. Consequently, make sure to keep a hospital kit ready including the crucial information about the senior and the medications they were taking. Also, include spare clothing, a few snacks, a charger, and other crucial items with you to make it easier for seniors at the hospital.

Maintain Open Communication: Seniors with dementia often experience lucidity throughout the day at the hospital due to which, it becomes crucial for you to tell them the reason why they have ended up being in a hospital, what will happen, and relax them. Try to be gentle with them while establishing open communication with them.

Make them comfortable: If the seniors have an object that helps keep them calm at home, do not hesitate to bring it to the hospital. It is because Familiar items by their side can help a senior with dementia feel more at ease in an unfamiliar situation.

Opt for a Private Room: While private rooms may not be affordable for you, choosing one can be more relaxing for both you and seniors as well. Otherwise, sharing the room with others might lead to disruption, noise, and visitors coming in and out troubling the seniors.

Discuss Dementia Behaviors with Staff: Speak with the doctor and nurses attending to the seniors about common dementia symptoms the seniors exhibit and also tell them how you handle these outbursts of seniors.

Ask Questions: You are free to ask as many questions to the doctor and nurses about the senior’s health, the treatments they are getting and how much time will recovery take. Understand the senior’s medical condition completely to prepare you to take care of them after the discharge.

Repeat Yourself: Inform every new hospital staff member you encounter during the hospital stay that the senior has dementia. Doing so can impact the senior’s care and experience at the hospital. Consequently, never hesitate to repeat things to the staff.

Stay by Their Side: Make sure that you are always there with the seniors at the hospital to calm and comfort them. Try to be available whenever the medical tests and procedures are performed on the seniors.