Cognitive decline in hospice patients is something that the care team at Maxcare Hospice is well-equipped to manage, allowing patients to live out their days with a focus on quality of life.
The Goals of Cognitive Care
Cognitive decline in patients can be distressing for the patient and their loved ones because it often comes with confusion and delirium, which can make it hard for patients to make informed decisions about their health. Our team, comprising physicians, nurses, social workers, and spiritual counselors, collaborates to address and manage the decline.
- Assessment and diagnosis. Our care team is experienced in identifying common signs of cognitive decline, like memory loss, confusion, and impaired reasoning. Depending on the team’s discretion, cognitive tests can also be administered to aid in diagnosis. With a thorough diagnosis, our care team collaborates to create a care plan tailored to the patient’s unique needs.
- Patient and family support. We understand that seeing your loved one experiencing cognitive decline can be scary, so we make sure to provide comprehensive support to the patient and their family. Patient support usually includes pain medication management, working with specialists like geriatricians, and addressing the emotional stressors that might be making this decline worse. Our spiritual counselors and bereavement specialists are available to offer compassionate support during this difficult time.
- Cognitive stimulation. Maintaining cognitive decline through activities can offer our patients a sense of purpose while encouraging engagement. Some common activities that engage cognitive thinking include puzzles, word games such as word searches, and Sudoku. We find that creative arts, such as drawing and painting, stimulate different parts of the brain while being enjoyable. Physical activity is also a great tool hospice workers like to use, and can be used for patients with mobility issues. Some common activities are dancing and simple chair exercises.
- Education. Our hospice care team will educate families about cognitive impairments and what they can expect. Families will learn coping strategies for dealing with these changes, and our social workers can direct family members to support groups.
