People With Dementia Often Need Hospitals, Which Are Often Ill-Prepared

Although persons with dementia frequently need hospital care, few hospitals are prepared to care for them, reports the Boston Globe . "Hospitals were never designed to accommodate people with dementia," says Susan Antkowiak with the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. A panel established in 2016 by the Massachusetts state legislature recently urged hospitals to develop, within three years, a comprehensive plan for addressing the needs of people with dementia, about 60 percent to 80 percent of whom have Alzheimer's. Composed of senior-care specialists, government officials, and caregivers, the panel has made voluntary recommendations for setting protocols for identifying people with dementia, training staff, and changing the surroundings to be more conducive. Concord-based Emerson Hospital has taken steps to accommodate people with dementia, according to Care Management Director Margaret Foley. She notes staffers work to help hospitalized people maintain the abilities they came with. In attempts to avoid sedating medications, the hospital seeks other ways to calm down individuals with dementia, such as a family photo or a familiar blanket. The Alzheimer's Association says Massachusetts stands out from other states in having established a committee focused exclusively on hospitals. A September report from the committee offered 70 pages of resources and suggestions. Patricia M. Noga with the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association says the association has organized a working group to identify ways hospitals can change and share knowledge about practices that are known to work.