When Admitted to the Hospital
Be an Advocate. Once admitted to the hospital, the most important role of a caregiver is to serve as attendant and advocate for their loved one. This means asking questions, being persistent, and understanding WHY treatments and services are being recommended as part of the care plan. (See more advice.) When possible, have more than one person present to take notes and listen to what the medical professionals are sharing. In addition, the following are steps to consider:
“I found out about my father being in the hospital two days after he was admitted. By then he was so aggressive they had to restrain him so he wouldn’t pull out his IV or hurt someone. Being able to speak with the nurse about his anxieties would have made a world of difference in managing his hospital delusions. As soon as you can, talk with the nurse on duty and let them know what you do about how your loved one experiences hallucinations or hospital delirium. ” - Caregiver
Limit or avoid hospital delirium and hallucinations -Also called “sundowning”, managing hospital delirium requires a collaborative effort from healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the patient.
Patients experiencing sundowning may have difficulty remembering names, dates, or locations. They may see or hear individuals not present, act out of character or ask for relatives long passed. They may be agitated, nervous, acting out or being unusually withdrawn. These patients are at a greater risk for long hospital stays, functional decline, risk of complications, and mortality. Once experienced, they tend to experience delusions with greater severity and regularity during future hospital stays. Here are some practical steps as you advocate for your confused loved one:
Mobility & UTIs - If your loved one has been admitted due to falls or weakness when standing and suffers from incontinence, it is possible that the care team may recommend the use of a catheter rather than a portable toilet. Using a urinary catheter increases the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). About 75% of UTIs developed in hospitals are associated with a urinary catheter, especially when they are left in place, rather than used periodically. If your loved one presents as delusional, this can be an indication that they have developed an infection, been exposed to Covid, the Flu or some other illness while in the hospital. NOTE: If the patient is placed on IV vs oral antibiotics, there may be a delay in being discharged from the hospital. Discuss medical treatment if an infection is determined.
Dementia & Anesthesia - While general anesthesia doesn't directly cause dementia, it can potentially worsen existing dementia symptoms in some individuals. To limit the impacts of anesthesia on dementia, the most important steps are to consult with a healthcare professional before surgery, discuss the patient's specific cognitive status, and opt for the least invasive anesthetic options like regional anesthesia when possible, while avoiding medications that can worsen cognitive function, particularly benzodiazepines and anticholinergics; additionally, meticulous post-operative care with close monitoring and cognitive stimulation can help manage potential cognitive decline.
©Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.