By Amy Sheridan, Seasons Program Director

Seasons Adult Day Health Services is fortunate to have a full-time Registered Nurse on staff to regularly complete nursing assessments. Another benefit to having our nurse on staff is that she is able to monitor participants day to day to catch any health changes that may occur. This oversight can help prevent illnesses from getting worse or resulting in lengthy hospital stays.

As a care partner in the home, providing daily care for someone with dementia can be stressful and taxing. It can be even more challenging when unexpected changes occur in your loved one’s health. Our nurse can be a support for care partners of participants who may be experiencing an unexpected change. A common change that has been seen in participants at Seasons is something called Delirium.

Delirium is a sudden change, or disturbance in a person’s mental ability. For someone with dementia, you might notice worsened confusion, irritability or agitation beyond their typical levels of these symptoms. The start of delirium is usually rapid — within hours or a few days, as opposed to the slow, insidious onset of dementia symptoms. Symptoms of delirium also tend to be worse during the night when it is dark and things look less familiar. There are many causes of delirium, but we find that urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are one of the most frequent triggers.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a type of infection common among older people. If a person with a memory impairment or dementia has a UTI, they may not be able to tell you about what they are experiencing.
In addition to the sudden personality changes seen with delirium, the most common signs of a UTI to look for in someone with dementia include:

• Urine with an abnormal odor or cloudy appearance
• New or worsened incontinence
• Weakness, lethargy and falls
• Burning with urination or pelvic pain
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Fever or chills

Contact your loved one’s physician promptly for guidance or a check-up at the first signs of a UTI or delirium to prevent severe consequences. If it is a UTI causing the delirium, antibiotics generally will clear the delirium fairly quickly.

To learn more about Seasons Adult Day Health Services and how our center may be a great fit for your loved one having cognitive changes, contact our Family Support Manager, Christin Rousseau, at 989-633-3767.