SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Activity Blankets: A Nonpharmalogical Approach to Hospital Dementia Care

Pdf Summary

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, focused on improving community health through high-quality care, education, biomedical research, and health promotion, regardless of ability to pay. It operates 23 hospitals and over 700 outpatient sites, with more than 13,600 affiliated physicians.<br /><br />The document describes a study on “activity blankets” as a non-pharmacological intervention for hospitalized adults with dementia. The study addressed the problem that people living with dementia are hospitalized more often than those without cognitive impairment, and unfamiliar hospital settings can trigger behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).<br /><br />Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review at a large academic hospital in New York and included adults age 65 and older with documented dementia who were at risk for BPSD and able to interact with the blanket. They reviewed dementia severity, BPSD management, and surveyed hospital caregivers about their experiences using a Likert scale.<br /><br />Key findings showed the average patient age was 84.2 years, with an average FAST score of 6C and an average hospital stay of 9.7 days. Before receiving the blanket, 56% of participants showed BPSD, and 26.1% required constant observation. After introduction of the activity blanket, use of psychoactive medications declined, including antipsychotics (47% to 17%), benzodiazepines (34% to 8%), and diphenhydramine (13% to 4%).<br /><br />Staff reported high satisfaction with the blankets and noted that patients often used and enjoyed them. The study concludes that activity blankets may help prevent or manage BPSD, reduce psychoactive medication use, and support caregivers in improving dementia care in hospitals.

Asset Subtitle

Michelle Loftus

Meta Tag

Author List Antoinette DeSisso-Trice, Liron Sinvani, Michelle Loftus, Nancy Kaplan, Winnie Chu

Category Research

Concept Dementia

Concept Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Concept Activity Blanket

Concept Hospitalization

Concept Non-Pharmacologic Therapy

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization North Shore University Hospital

Presenting Author Michelle Loftus

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

Northwell Health

dementia

activity blankets

hospitalized adults

behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

BPSD

non-pharmacological intervention

psychoactive medications

retrospective chart review

New York hospital

Dementia

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Activity Blanket

Hospitalization

Non-Pharmacologic Therapy