When a hospital is unable to meet the needs of a senior with dementia, the older adult can potentially become vulnerable to many physical or mental complications. If your senior loved one has dementia and will be visiting the hospital for any reason, make sure the hospital is equipped to treat seniors living with this condition. Here are a few suggestions for ensuring a safe hospital visit for your loved one.
Work with the Staff
Some hospital staff may not know the basic facts about dementia. Give the staff information pertaining to the approaches that work best for your loved one. Let them know what upsets your parent and how they can reduce the distress.
Explain your loved one’s “baseline,” which can help the staff tell the difference between acute confusion, delirium, and dementia. This can include information about things such as your loved one’s meal preferences, what may trigger agitation in your parent, and communication strategies you’ve found to be effective.
You should also inform the hospital staff about any possible safety concerns to watch for, such as wandering and frequently falling. The staff can employ bed alarms and other devices to ensure your loved one’s safety.
Keeping track of your loved one’s conditions and medications can be challenging, and a caregiver with expertise in dementia care can be a fantastic source of support. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted at-home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help.
Have Questions Directed toward You
Your parent could experience disorientation because of the unfamiliar hospital environment, his or her illness, or medication, which could make it difficult to communicate with hospital staff. Even if your loved one is able to answer some of the questions medical personnel ask, the stress of answering questions may lead to outbursts of anger, so it may be best for you to take over this responsibility. Your loved one may not be able to answer some questions accurately, or a diagnosis might upset him or her and lead to aggravated behaviors, which is why you may want to speak with the doctor outside the room and answer the questions in private.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, medication reminders, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Fort Lauderdale families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Put Together a Support System
If the hospital procedure your loved one is having cannot be performed on an outpatient basis, ask the doctor to shorten the stay as much as possible. Regardless of how long the stay is, make sure your loved one has a great support system made up of family, friends, or professional caregivers so someone can be with your loved one at all times.
Older adults, especially those with dementia, have an increased risk of falls and other injuries while they’re staying in the hospital. Although hospital staff will do everything they can to keep your loved one safe, they may not be able to monitor him or her 24 hours a day. Each person on your team will have an important role, including comfort and communication, hands-on caregiving, and management of personal affairs.
After returning home from the hospital, your loved one may need 24/7 home care. Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Fort Lauderdale families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life. Reach out to us at Assisting Hands Home Care if you need compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today.
