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Advice by Alicia: Hospitalization

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with dementia. Alicia Seaver is the Vice President of Memory Care Operations at Bridges® by EPOCH and is a certified memory impairment specialist. This month’s topic is hospitalization.

With more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, our country has begun to recognize the need for accommodating this population. Dementia Friendly initiatives are popping up in communities across the country, and most states require police officers and nursing home staff to undergo dementia care training. It may seem surprising, then, to learn that dementia care training is not required of hospital staff. This means hospital patients with dementia often don’t receive the specialized care they need, which can lead to declines in abilities they had prior to being admitted, such as walking, eating and speech. Unfortunately, this places extra pressure on family members to closely monitor their loved one’s care.

Since a hospital stay is often a question of when — not if — for people living with dementia, caregivers and family members need to know what to expect ahead of time. Whether a trip to the ER or a planned stay, the unfamiliar setting of a hospital as well as its sounds and activity can frighten, confuse and agitate your loved one. Hospital staff may not know how to appropriately respond to your loved one, which can escalate stress and behavior.

The best thing you can do to help prevent an issue is to fully explain your loved one’s disease and symptoms to hospital staff as soon as they are admitted. Creating a sheet of tips and details about your loved one’s preferences and triggers can prove helpful. You should also inform staff of any cognitive or behavioral difficulties your loved one has, as well as provide tips on how to best handle these challenges.  

To help make your loved one’s stay more comfortable, request a private room if possible. This can prove more calming and quiet than a shared room. Turning off the television, telephone ringer and intercom will also help minimize loud noises and distractions. Playing soothing music in the room or practicing comforting rituals such as reading or reminiscing can help promote relaxation as well.

Minimizing your loved one’s anxiety and agitation toward the unfamiliar can prove difficult in a large hospital setting, so it’s wise to appoint someone they know to stay with them throughout their hospital visit, whether that’s you, a family member or a longtime friend. If this is not possible, reach out to a hospital advocate or a member of the hospital’s ethic committee for assistance.

If you choose to stay and serve as your loved one’s advocate, try to avoid intervening with their medical care. While it’s important to educate staff about your loved one’s disease, it’s also important to do so in a calm and respectful manner. Maintain a positive attitude even if you believe things are not going as they should, as your demeanor can affect your loved one’s mood. Do, however, feel free to ask staff questions and express any concerns you may have. You have a right to understand what’s being done to your loved one.

In an ideal world, no one would have to monitor their loved one’s hospital stay to ensure he or she is being properly cared for. Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in just yet. If your memory-impaired loved one is admitted to the hospital, work closely with hospital staff to ensure they receive the right care. And don’t forget to take breaks, and make time for food and sleep — ask a friend or family member to stand in your place while you rest. If you have any additional questions about dementia and hospitalization, I’m here for you — please reach out.

Alicia Seaver, Advice by Alicia
If there is a topic you would like Alicia to discuss, please send suggestions to [email protected].

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