A trip to the hospital can be stressful for people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia and their caregivers. Being prepared for emergency and planned hospital visits can relieve some of that stress. This article suggests ways to help you prepare and tips for making your visit to the emergency room or hospital easier. Show
Hospital Emergencies: What You Can DoA trip to the emergency room (ER) can tire and frighten a person with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Here are some ways to cope:
Do not leave the emergency room without a plan. If you are sent home, make sure you understand all instructions for follow-up care. What to PackAn emergency bag with the following items, packed ahead of time, can make a visit to the ER go more smoothly:
By taking these steps in advance, you can reduce the stress and confusion that often accompany a hospital visit, particularly if the visit is an unplanned trip to the emergency room. Before a Planned Hospital StayWith Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, it is wise to accept that hospitalization is a “when” and not an “if” event. Due to the nature of the disease, it is very probable that, at some point, the person you are caring for will be hospitalized. Keep in mind that hospitals are not typically well-designed for patients with dementia. Preparation can make all the difference. Here are some tips.
During the Hospital StayWhile the person with dementia is in the hospital:
If anxiety or agitation occurs, try the following:
Working with Hospital StaffRemember that not everyone in the hospital knows the same basic facts about memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and related dementias. You may need to help teach hospital staff what approach works best with the person with Alzheimer’s, what distresses or upsets him or her, and ways to reduce this distress. You can help the staff by providing them with a personal information sheet that includes the person’s normal routine, how he or she prefers to be addressed (e.g., Miss Minnie, Dr. James, Jane, Mr. Miller, etc.), personal habits, likes and dislikes, possible behaviors (what might trigger them and how best to respond), and nonverbal signs of pain or discomfort. Help staff understand what the person’s “baseline” is (prior level of functioning) to help differentiate between dementia and acute confusion or delirium. You should:
For more information on dealing with dementia and hospitalization, see the University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center’s Tips for Hospitalization. For More Information About Hospitalization and Alzheimer'sNIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center Alzheimers.gov This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date. Content reviewed: May 18, 2017 What position should the nurse aide place an unconscious client when giving oral care?An unconscious patient is placed in the side-lying position when mouth care is provided because this position prevents pooling of secretions at the back of the oral cavity, thereby reducing the risk of aspiration.
What is the first area of a client's body that the nurse aide should wash when providing a bed bath?Make sure not to lather the soap too much or you'll risk getting suds in their eyes or mouth (this is one of the reasons many people use baby shampoo for bed baths). Once you're done washing above the neck, it's time to wash one side of the body at a time. Start with the shoulder, upper body, arm and hand.
When taking a clients radial pulse the nurse aides fingertips should be placed on the clients?Placed the tips of the first two or three fingers over the groove along the radial (or thumb) side of the patient's inner wrist. Slightly extended or flexed the patient's wrist with the palm down until the pulse was strongest.
When caring for a client who uses a protective device restraint the nurse aide should?When caring for a client who uses a protective device (restraint), the nurse aide SHOULD: check the client's body alignment.
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