Too Many ER Visits
Every year, 1.4 million people with memory problems, like Alzheimer’s disease, land in the emergency room.
These people are over 65 years old and their ER visits make up 7% of all trips for this age group. It’s found that they are twice as likely to need emergency care after an accident or mental health issue.
With around 6 million Americans believed to have memory problems, we need to find ways to support those who look after them, like family members or nursing home workers.
The Role of Caregivers
Lauren B. Gerlach, a scientist and a doctor who studies and cares for older adults, says her study’s results can help us figure out how to keep people with dementia safer.
It can also help us prevent unwanted behaviors that may be caused by dementia, like feeling upset, being aggressive, or doing things that make others worried.
“Memory problems can cause more than just forgetting things. They can also cause people to feel nervous, be awake when they should be asleep, or act out in ways that they normally wouldn’t,” Gerlach said.
“Emergency rooms are not the best place to handle these problems. We need to do better at helping those who care for people with memory problems so they don’t have to take them to the ER.”
The Dangers of Emergency Room Visits
Being in the emergency room can be a confusing and scary experience for people with dementia. The loud noises, the long waiting times, and unfamiliar faces can make them feel lost.
Something as simple as getting blood drawn can be terrifying for them. To top it all off, some may receive medications to calm them down, which can be harmful if used for a long time.
These drugs can even increase the chances of accidents or serious health problems, as warned by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Differences in ER Treatment
People with dementia may also be treated differently when they visit the ER. They are more likely to get a urine test or a head scan.
This is because they often can’t express their discomfort or pain, which makes it harder for doctors to understand what’s wrong.
For example, a urinary infection might make someone with dementia aggressive, because it’s painful and they don’t know how to express it.
Need for Better Care
Gerlach and her colleague Matthew A. Davis believe we need to understand more about dementia patients’ visits to the ER.
They highlight that caregivers often experience high levels of stress and burnout, which might be the reason for these frequent ER visits.
Potential Solutions
To improve this situation, Gerlach suggests teaching family caregivers how to prevent or soothe the behavioral symptoms among their loved ones.
One way of doing this is through a method called DICE, which is an online program that anyone caring for someone with dementia can use.
Gerlach also points out that making homes safer for people with dementia can reduce the risk of accidents.
In some places, there are special emergency departments designed for older people, which could be a good solution, but these are not available everywhere.
Sometimes, a situation may require a trip to the ER, such as when a person with dementia becomes physically aggressive.
However, Gerlach believes that with the right help and support, we can prevent a lot of these crises and emergency visits.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task, and it’s important for caregivers to have the support and resources they need to prevent unnecessary ER visits and provide the best care possible for their loved ones.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and blood pressure problem at night may increase Alzheimer’s risk.
The study was published in JAMA Neurology.
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