Living with dementia, or caring for someone with dementia?
For people living with dementia changes in routine and environment can be stressful and exacerbate symptoms. A visit to hospital whether for a planned appointment or admission, or an unexpected emergency visit, can be especially upsetting. The unfamiliar noises, activities and people in a hospital can be very overwhelming.
Be Ready for a Visit to the Emergency Room
Preparation can improve a visit. The Alzheimer Society of Canada have resources on their website to help prepare for hospital visits or doctors appointments. Be Ready for an Emergency Department Visit is a series of handy checklists and forms for a person with dementia to fill out with a family member, friend, or caregiver. Complete these forms before a trip to the hospital is necessary, so that the person with dementia is ready to go. The information provided on these forms will help you communicate the person’s needs, making it possible for hospital staff to provide more personalized care. Being able to easily communicate with hospital staff the types of behaviours that the new environment might trigger, and ways in which agitation or panic can be eased is really helpful. Providing details of communication issues and medical history is also very important. As a carer you will feel more prepared and able to cope if you have all the information written in one place.
Find the checklist and all the forms here
