Reducing Stress and Protecting Dignity Through Preparation

Hospital visits can be confusing, overwhelming, and even frightening for individuals living with dementia. The bright lights, unfamiliar faces, constant interruptions, and long waits often trigger anxiety, disorientation, or even distressing behaviours.

Creating a hospital visit plan in advance can dramatically improve these experiences—reducing stress for both the individual and their carers. It ensures medical staff are informed, loved ones are prepared, and the person with dementia remains at the centre of their care, not lost in the system.

With the help of secure legacy tools like Evaheld, families can store essential information, care preferences, and calming strategies in the Evaheld Legacy Vault, ready to access instantly when a hospital trip becomes necessary.

Why Hospital Visits Are Challenging for People With Dementia

According to Dementia Support Australia, common issues during hospitalisation include:

• Increased confusion due to environmental change
• Agitation caused by unfamiliar routines
• Communication breakdowns between staff and carers
• Missed opportunities to uphold spiritual or emotional preferences
• Inappropriate or unwanted treatments due to unclear documentation

A clear hospital visit plan helps manage these risks, especially when the person is unable to advocate for themselves.

Key Elements of a Dementia-Friendly Hospital Visit Plan

1. Medical Summary and Advance Care Documentation

Prepare a concise, up-to-date medical history, including:

• Diagnoses
• Medications
• Allergies
• Emergency contacts
• Copies of any Advance Health Directive or enduring power of attorney

Store this digitally via Evaheld so it can be easily accessed or printed in emergencies.

2. Care and Communication Preferences

Outline how the person communicates and what helps calm or orient them:

• Preferred name
• Visual or audio prompts
• Calming phrases or gestures
• How to explain medical procedures

The Evaheld blog highlights how storing communication tips in the Evaheld Legacy Vault supports more personalised and compassionate hospital care.

3. Emotional and Sensory Needs

Include notes on:

• Sounds, smells, or environments that cause distress
• Items that bring comfort (e.g. blankets, photos, music)
• Rituals around sleep or meals
• Spiritual practices important during treatment

Resources from Nurse Info can guide carers in creating sensory-friendly hospital kits tailored for dementia patients.

4. Legacy and Identity Support

Consider recording:

• A brief voice or video introduction from the person themselves
• Legacy messages or calming stories to play during long waits
• Notes about their hobbies, family, or faith that staff can reference

These can be uploaded and stored using Evaheld, creating an emotional lifeline that reconnects the person to their identity in a clinical setting.

The Family Legacy Series provides excellent tools for building this type of content meaningfully.

Preparing the Carer or Support Person

Carers should have:

• A printed and digital version of the hospital plan
• Knowledge of what’s stored in the Evaheld Legacy Vault
• Consent to advocate on behalf of the individual
• Instructions for who to notify in the event of hospitalisation

The Online Will Blog discusses how integrating these practical preparations into legacy planning reduces stress during medical emergencies.

Emergency vs Planned Visits

For Emergency Visits:

• Have a printed one-page summary with hospital staff immediately
• Store a digital version on your phone or tablet
• Ensure emergency contacts have Evaheld access credentials

For Planned Admissions:

• Inform the hospital ahead of time about the dementia diagnosis
• Request dementia-aware or aged care-trained staff
• Ensure Advance Care Planning Australia documents are shared with all relevant departments

These steps can reduce confusion and ensure preferences are followed respectfully and legally.

Cultural and Spiritual Care Considerations

Hospital visits can feel dehumanising without personal context. Include:

• Rituals before or after treatment
• Prayer times or spiritual leaders to contact
• Foods or dietary preferences (especially during fasting periods)

These details may also be stored in your Advance Health Directive or added to your Evaheld profile to ensure dignity is maintained throughout the experience.

Involving the Person with Dementia in Planning

While still in the early stages, the individual should be included in discussions around:

• Which hospital they feel most comfortable in
• Who they’d like by their side
• What they find soothing or frightening in medical settings
• Their views on pain relief, sedation, or specific interventions

Empowering the person to participate ensures their voice remains at the heart of their care.

Reviewing and Updating the Hospital Visit Plan

Hospital needs and personal preferences can change. Revisit the plan every 6–12 months, or sooner if:

• There’s a significant health change
• A new diagnosis is made
• Your care team, medical contacts, or emergency contacts change

Having a centralised system like Evaheld makes regular updates easier and ensures everyone is working from the most accurate version.

Final Thoughts

A hospital visit doesn’t have to mean chaos and fear. With preparation, compassion, and the right digital tools, it becomes another opportunity to offer dignity, connection, and clarity—no matter what the diagnosis.

Planning ahead today ensures that tomorrow’s care is not only medically sound, but emotionally safe.