Potentially avoidable hospital admissions for people with dementia

Older patients with dementia are admitted to hospital three times more often than the same age group without dementia. Hospital stays lead to cognitive deterioration in those affected. People with a low MMST (Mini Mental Status Test) score are at high risk of suffering from post-operative delirium. The main reasons for admission are falls, behavioural problems, heart, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases, infections, comorbidities, but also structural problems in the care of these patients. Hospitals are not structurally adapted and staff are not trained to deal adequately with this group of people, and there is a lack of specific treatment and care concepts. The mobile geriatric consultation/liaison service, which could mitigate these shortcomings, is hardly developed. Potential hospital stays can be avoided if primary care provides comprehensive care for people with dementia. Medical care is needed that is appropriate for the multimorbidity of these patients.