I have seen elderly dementia patients being placed at public hospitals despite not experiencing any other acute nor chronic pain. Would placing elderly dementia patients amongst themselves at hospices instead help them to recollect whatever short-term decaying memory left of them?
Ideally, if people dementia are placed in long-term care settings, these settings must be designed according to their functional abilities and needs. The appropriate type of setting would highly depend on each individual's functional and cognitive level. For example, there are excellent respite programs for individuals with dementia with mild to moderate symptoms in the USA where they go for cognitive stimulation and socialization during the day. They return to live with their families in the evening. There is evidence that these programs increase well-being and may even have some influence on rate of progression. There are also dementia care units where individuals can permanently reside with other people who have dementia. There is evidence that it is beneficial for people with dementia to reside in long-term care settings that are designed specifically for their unique needs. For end-of-life care, it is very important to consider the special needs of people with dementia which can be quite different than other individuals at end of life. For instance, pain may not be as much as an issue as swallowing, although each person has unique needs.
For which country is this the case?
In the UK, people with dementia only get admitted to a hospital if they have a physical problem. If ut is to do with their dementia symptoms (memory, behaviour, agitation, lack of independence), they receive care at home or are being admitted to care homes.
Better training for general nurses on general wards where many dementia patients can find themselves. Stigma can have a negative effect on them and their families. Perhaps a dementia specialist should be hired in hospitals to ensure that the wards are dementia friendly.
Thank you to all for your kind reply.
For Clarissa, my context is Singapore and confined to one non-popular public hospital .
Through my own prolonged stay owing to accidental issues, I have seen the families just ditch the dementia elderly patients to wander the wards with the nurses busy playing cat and mouse game.
Stigma is never the issue for dementia patients here, Margaret but the nurses found them "fun" to work with as compared to looking after acute and chronic patients like me and several younger others where our parameters are taken hourly if not at preset interval. Not to mention special care we need every now and then.
The fact that these patients are included within our discipline is appalling yet bed crunch diminishes the distinction thus leaving us affected mostly mentally as the nurses are more concerned with losing pain-free (physically) dementia patients then caring for our physical and mental injuries.
That is why I query as to the relevance of grouping them at hospitals or merely hospices when there are no apparent physical impairment found upon deliberate queries except owing to the fact that the families could not look after them for economic reasons despite the lauded bed crunch sentiment.
I think for patients with mental health, addictions and people with dementia the main aim for me would having them on a person friendly unit. people who are anxious read body language well and fast.
My sentiment exactly Margaret - hospice should then then fit well, don't you think so? Considering it is for purely cognitive rather than organic remedy.
Yes Mariam, we must respect and treat our patients with compassion, respect and dignity and perhaps on largely biomedical managed environments that may not be achieved if even recognised.
Surprisingly Margaret, this is what the dementia patients are not getting from the hospitals. I just hope the hospital's think tank would know of their shortcomings soon else the hospice be well equipped with the people person to take care of this pathetic unit. Thank you for being a good sharing partner. Merry Christmas and Merry New Year too. Best regards - Mariam
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