Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

The Role of Dementia Ward in an Acute Hospital

Si Ching Lim

Alzheimer disease International’s data shows that there are 50 million people living with dementia worldwide in 2017 with someone in the world developing dementia every 3 seconds. The estimated global cost for dementia is about USD 1 trillion by 2018. In terms of healthcare utilization, the elderly with dementia are more likely to be hospitalized compared to their peers without dementia since dementia increases fall risk, injuries, infections and complications due to chronic diseases and drugs. During the hospital stay, the elderly patients with dementia are more likely to develop iatrogenic complications like delirium, falls and infections, with higher mortality is higher and longer length of stay.