Cognitive changes at the end-of-life can be deeply upsetting and scary for patients and their loved ones. At Maxcare Hospice, we understand how overwhelming this can feel, and we’re here to walk this journey with you.
With compassion and expertise, our care team 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. That’s why we approach each patient with gentle understanding and clear communication.
Our team, comprising physicians, nurses, social workers, and spiritual counselors, collaborates to address and manage the decline. This means meeting the physical and deep emotional needs of our patients.
- 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, preferences, and comfort.
- Patient and family support. We know it’s hard watching your loved one go through these changes, 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. We’re always here to ease the weight during this 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 that boosts circulation and improves patients moods.
- 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.
Creating a Safe Environment
Cognitive decline can often lead to confusion and wandering, which is when accidents happen.
Your loved one’s safety is our top priority.
Our care team works hard to ensure that wherever the patient calls home is safe and comfortable. This will often include using things like night lights, labeling rooms clearly, and removing any tripping hazards.
