CONCORD — Alzheimer’s is a complex disease. Special attention is needed for the identification and management of dementia when a person is experiencing an acute illness. Gov. Chris Sununu recently signed SB119 into law, an act directing hospitals to implement an operational plan for the care of patients with dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, this bill requires hospitals to complete and implement an operational plan for the recognition and management of patients with dementia or delirium in acute care settings. It was created in collaboration with the New Hampshire Hospital Association.
“A new environment accompanied by unfamiliar sounds, sights, and smells coupled with medical testing and shifts in medication can be difficult for anyone to manage, but for someone with dementia it can increase anxiety, agitation and confusion,” shared Heather Carroll, public policy manager from the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter.
“Thanks to this legislation signed by Gov. Sununu, hospitals can identify challenges and opportunities to enhance care, create strategies to manage and improve the cost-effectiveness of care and provide a quality experience for their patients living with dementia,” said Carroll.
According to the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures Report, people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias have twice as many hospital stays per year. In a study of inpatient hospitalizations of adults age 60 or older, those with Alzheimer’s were at 7% greater risk of dying during the hospital stay and stayed nearly a day longer than individuals without Alzheimer’s. Among Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, 21% of hospital stays are followed by a readmission within 30 days. Additionally, there are 1,471 emergency department visits per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s or other dementias per year.
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