Keeping a MA Senior with Alzheimer’s Safe in the ER
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- Published on Wednesday, 27 August 2014 00:00
When a Massachusetts senior loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease is taken to the emergency room, it can be tough on everyone involved in their care. If their verbal skills are impaired, it is more difficult to determine what is wrong and how to fix it. Just taking someone with memory loss out of a familiar environment often triggers agitation, and behavioral problems can further complicate the ER visit.
6 Tips for Hospital Trips When Someone Has Alzheimer's
In the event that you find yourself making a trip to the hospital with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease, these tips can help them receive the best possible care:
- Communicate your loved one’s condition to everyone involved in their care. Family caregivers are often caught off guard by how little some emergency room staff know about Alzheimer’s disease and communicating with patients who have it. If they are taken to a different department for testing, be sure the transporter knows about their condition and that it is marked in their chart or on their paperwork.
- Convey their abilities and limitations. Explain to the staff the tasks your loved one can and can’t doAlso share any phobias and fears they may have developed. For example, some people who live with Alzheimer’s disease develop a fear of water or small spaces. Sharing this information will help staff determine how to best diagnose and treat them.
- Have a family member or loved one with them as much as possible. Be sure a loved one familiar with their condition stays with them during their time in the emergency department and for as much of the time as possible if the senior is admitted to the hospital. That can help keep their agitation managed and also give staff someone to ask questions.
- Know their medical history and have a written copy of it. Be sure you keep an up-to-date list of your senior loved one’s medical history in a place you can easily access. There are cell phone apps and cloud based systems that make this easier to do. You want to quickly provide it to the staff at the hospital.
- Have an updated medication list. If your loved one is going to the hospital for a planned surgery, check with their physician to see if you should bring their medication bottles or a list of medications. In the event this is an unplanned trip to the hospital, make sure you have a list of their current medication, including dosages.
- Let staff know who the emergency contact is. It is important to indicate to the hospital staff who in the family is the senior’s legal guardian, or the person who has their durable power of attorney for health. If your loved one has advanced directives, the hospital will want to have a copy of them.
The bottom line is don’t assume that because the emergency department staff are health care professionals, they know how to work with people with Alzheimer’s disease. They may not. Don’t be shy about speaking up to explain the situation. Just remember to be discrete and respectful of your loved one’s feelings.
