Caring for Your Loved One With Alzheimer’s Who Needs Hospitalization

By Sue Ryan

When our loved one is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, routine often provides a sense of safety. Hospitalization disrupts that routine. It can be unsettling for them and for us as caregivers. Alongside the medical issue, we’re often managing their fear, confusion and the impacts of sudden change. It’s helpful to have a plan in place for these moments.

My husband, Jack, was living in a memory care community when I received a call that he was being taken to the hospital. He had a fever, nausea and was clearly in pain. By that point in his Alzheimer’s journey, he couldn’t tell us where it hurt. When I arrived, he was disoriented. He didn’t recognize me, didn’t want anyone near him, and he was frightened.

Doctors determined Jack was having a gallbladder attack. Because of his Alzheimer’s, surgery wasn’t an option. The safest course was to manage his pain and keep him slightly sedated to see if his symptoms would resolve. I stayed with him for five days, and fortunately he was able to return to his care community.

I know the experience was more manageable for Jack, the medical team and for me because of five tips I had put in place.

Five tips to prepare for a hospital stay

1. Keep medical records accessible
If your loved one lives in a care community, know which hospital the community will use if needed. If it’s not one that already has your loved one’s records, create a detailed set to go with them and keep a duplicate copy with you.

2. Create a simple “About Me” tip sheet
I prepared a short document with details not found in a chart: the name he preferred, familiar music and prayers, topics he responded to, foods he liked or disliked, and things that tended to increase anxiety. This helped the care team connect with him as a person, not just a patient.

3. Talk about medical wishes early
When possible, have conversations early in the diagnosis about wishes in the event of a serious illness. Including family members in these discussions can help everyone feel aligned if decisions need to be made quickly.

4. Make advance directives easy to find
If a do-not-resuscitate order or other directive is in place, keep copies readily available — at home, with the care community and during hospital visits. These provide clarity in urgent moments.

5. Create a support plan
I stayed with Jack throughout his hospital stay, which isn’t always practical or possible. Early on, I put together a plan with friends and family about how we would support one another depending on the situation. We revisited and updated it periodically. I kept copies with the care community and in my hospital notebook.

Hospital stays are rarely easy, especially when dementia is involved. By following these five tips, I was able to have peace of mind with our journey, stay fully present with his care and know I was not alone.

For more detailed guidance on preparing for a hospital stay, discharge planning and caregiver support around hospital visits, see the Alzheimer’s Association’s Hospitalization and Discharge Planning guide.

Sue Ryan is a dementia family caregiver with 40 years’ experience journeying with loved ones who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.