Patient discussions

Your Organizational Guidance

ebpracticenet urges you to prioritize the following organizational guidance:

Guide de pratique clinique pluridisciplinaire relatif à la collaboration dans la dispense de soins aux personnes âgées démentes résidant à domicile et leurs aidants prochesPublished by: Groupe de Travail Développement de recommmandations de première ligneLast published: 2017Multidisciplinaire richtlijn voor thuiswonende oudere personen met dementie en hun mantelzorgersPublished by: Werkgroep Ontwikkeling Richtlijnen Eerste Lijn (Worel)Last published: 2017

Discussions about future care (including advance decisions) and financial matters should take place with the patient and their family and caregivers at an early stage. The patient should be given the opportunity at each care review to assess and change any advance statements and decisions they have made.[122][123]

Strategies that may foster improved communication with patients with dementia include using short and simple sentences; explaining things; decreasing distractions; asking close-ended questions or providing response choices; not pushing the patient to come up with a word, name, or memory; and using visual aids.[133]

Some strategies have been suggested by the American Academy of Neurology to improve functional performance and to help reduce behavioral problems in patients with dementia. These may include:

  • Scheduling toileting times and prompting to encourage voiding to reduce urinary incontinence

  • Playing music, particularly during meals and bathing

  • Walking or light forms of exercise.

Discuss coping techniques with caregivers, provide information about respite care, and identify means of drawing on support from friends, other family members, community organizations, and home care agencies.

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer