Patients with Dementia in Hospital

Hospitals can be dangerous places. This is particularly the case for people with dementia for whom hospital admission has been associated with functional and cognitive decline. Despite a high proportion of hospital inpatients having cognitive impairment, healthcare staff frequently report a lack of training in caring for people with dementia. Hospital systems and infrastructure are often designed around the needs of the organisation and not core patient groups. The challenges facing the team caring for people with dementia are not to be underestimated. There are however steps that can be taken to improve the care of patients with dementia in hospital.