Partnering with Family Caregivers: A Guide for Hospitalization When Your Loved One Has Dementia

Preparing Your Loved One for Hospitalization
Before a hospitalization:
- Consider creating a health information sheet that contains important information, such as:
-- contact info for health care providers and key family members
-- list of current medications including instructions
- Make a schedule with other family members to take turns spending time in the hospital.
Admission to the hospital:
- Bring glasses, dentures, and hearing aids
- Bring a few personal items your loved one enjoys, such as a favorite blanket.
During hospitalization:
- Communicate specific information about your loved one to hospital staff. Such information might include:
-- what your loved one likes to be called
-- their typical routines around daytime and night-time activity
- Work on the discharge plan early in the hospitalization, including the need for further evaluation or additional services.
Chapters
1 The Need for Partnering
2 Defining Dementia
3 Defining Delirium
4 Identifying Problems with Cognition
5 How Health Care Providers Can Help
6 Important Information for Family Caregivers to Share
7 What Family Caregivers Can Do to Prepare for a Hospital Stay
8 Preparing for Discharge
9 Going Forward
10 Resources