Whenever possible, the relative should be informed regarding the existence and cause of the state of confusion. This is particularly so in the case when relations are asked to be involved in the care of the disturbed patient. The relatives should then be informed why and how their involvement is beneficial and how they may practically assist nurses in calming the agitated individual.
As regards wandering and agitated patients, they need to be carefully and closely watched in order to ensure that they do not wander out of the bounds of the circumscribed domains.
Persuasion and distraction is preferred to restraints or sedation and the relatives of the patient can be involved in helping the nurse deal with the agitated patient. The causes of agitation should be traced and seen to. These may include need for relieving oneself, hunger, or thirst.
Confused speech may also be a mark of the agitated patient.
In the case of confused speech, nurses are encouraged to adopt one of the following strategies: to change the subject, tactfully disagree, or acknowledge the patient's feelings.
Sedatives and dementia
Sedatives (particularly those with anticholinergic side effects) are often a causative factor in dementia, therefore sedatives and antipsychotics should be controlled and their use...
A maximum of 2mg Haloperidol (tablet or fluid) is preferred given either orally or as intramsucular injection every 6 hours. Risperidone and olanzapine should not be used since they seem to result in stroke for elderly patients. Before prescribing the drug, patient's history should also be consulted in order to see whether there is a history of cerebrovascular disease.
In conclusion, caring for a patient with dementia is challenging all around: for the nurse, for the physicians, for the family and relatives and for the caregivers in general. The progressive characteristic of dementia affects memory, cognitive functions, communications, and self-help skills. All of this makes it extremely stressful and frustrating.
The fact that people currently live longer and that there is a great boom in the elderly generation has given us a broader population that suffers from dementia. The responsibility of nurses has therefore increased and their job has not become easier
