Family caregivers' reports of hospitalizations and emergency department visits in community-dwelling individuals with dementia

Abstract

Individuals with dementia in the United States have higher rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits compared to those without. This descriptive study examined the frequency of hospitalizations and emergency department visits among community-dwelling individuals with dementia, reasons for hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and caregivers' actions to prevent these events. Family caregivers ( n = 63) from education/support groups offered through Alzheimer's Association chapters in western Ohio completed a survey. Twenty-two percent of caregivers reported that their care recipient stayed overnight in the hospital and 30% reported that their care recipient visited the emergency department at least once in the past three months. The most frequent reasons for hospitalization and emergency department visits, such as urinary tract infections and fall-related injuries, were potentially avoidable. Caregivers reported giving medications, seeking healthcare services, and obtaining home care services, as the most frequently used preventive actions. Family caregivers of individuals with dementia should be provided substantive education about preventable hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Keywords: caregivers; dementia; early intervention (education); emergency service/hospital; hospitalization.