Description

Dementia is a highly prevalent mental disorder in acute hospital settings, being present in up to 30% of elderly inpatients. Dementia is under-detected and under-diagnosed in the district general hospital. The diagnosis of dementia in an acute hospital setting is associated with poorer outcomes, such as longer lengths of stay and increased risk of institutionalization, delirium, hip fracture and death. Having a dementia also increases the risk of acute hospitalization. Costs of inpatient care for dementia patients constitute the major cost of care in dementia. Behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) are the most common clinical presentation of dementia in the general hospital. The presence of BPSD increases the length of hospital stay in dementia patients and also is the main reason for nursing home placement. Various interventions are discussed that could contribute to improving quality of care in the management of dementia patients in the general hospital.