529 ASSESSING DISCOMFORT AND DISTRESS IN OLDER INPATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA

Up to 42% of acute hospital inpatients have dementia. This can make it more difficult for patients to communicate their needs, this in turn may lead to distress and agitation. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of distress and discomfort in inpatients with dementia in acute hospitals who may not be able to communicate their needs. Methods A series of existing clinical and observational methods were used to measure various aspects of the experience of hospitalised in patients with dementia, and staff working with these patients on wards. These measures looked to identify sources of discomfort, observe the effect of the environment, understand how staff currently identify discomfort and explore associations with behaviours that challenge. Results 94 patients and their next of kin have been approached; 79 consented to being included in the study, and 67 have been fully assessed. Almost 20% of patients assessed have severe psychiatric problems. ~70% of patients were severely disoriented at assessment. Patients assessed were often sleepy (62%), hadn’t moved for a long period of time (48%) and reported agitation (60%), anxiety (60%) and depression (70%). Staff reported agitation and aggression in 56% of patients, with high frequencies of incidents per patient. Conclusions Signs of distress and agitation are common in hospitalised persons with dementia. Patients are often disoriented, which impedes communication of needs. This also has a high burden on staff, as many behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia are experienced daily on wards.