Life with a New PT Grad : Geriatrics

Learning Experience

Lisa West — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:26:00 GMT

A few nights ago I picked up an extra evaluation at the end of the day. It was a very active 88-year old woman admitted for a GI bleed. She volunteers weekly and is completely independent at home. No device used. Upon introducing myself and my purpose...(read more)

Dementia, Part Two

Lisa Catenacci — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:58:00 GMT

After asking many of my coworkers, my CI, and other colleagues in the PT field, I've learned a lot this week about working with patients with dementia. Before I started looking into this subject, I wasn't frustrated with dementia patients, or anything like that. Most of my patients are pleasant and cooperative with PT. I just want to be as effective as I can be for them. There is a big difference between A x O x 4 and A x O x zero.

I had one patient with dementia who asked, "How do you get a police officer around here? Is every room assigned a policeman, or do you call one when you need one?" Rather than explain to this patient how irrelevant her question was, I simply responded, "We just call an officer when we need one." I try to assure the patient, so they won't be as worried or concerned during our therapy sessions, or at all.

Overall, the tips I learned were: To be very repetitive in therapy sessions. This will give your patients more opportunities to remember what you are telling them. Likewise, use short commands, such as "Sit Down" rather than, "Please reach for the armrest, then slowly lower yourself into the chair."

Falls and gait abnormalities are common in patients with dementia, so assessing these risks is another important factor in treating patients.

If you have any other suggestions for working with patients with dementia, send them my way. I anticipate I will have many other patients with this diagnosis!

Dementia

Lisa Catenacci — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:42:00 GMT

So, I really don't know a lot about working with patients who have dementia, but many of my patients are affected with this injury. Likewise, I have a personal experience of dementia with my great-grandmother.

What I'm wondering is- do you have any tips for me? Words of wisdom? Tips or tricks that work, things to look for?

Next week I will post a blog about what I've learned. I hope you'll give me something to write about!