Dementia Friendly Ambulance Services
Dementia Friendly Ambulance Services
• Whilst Australian Ambulance Services have been part of some amazing clinical research into things like trauma care, airway management, administration of blood products at the scene, mobile stroke ambulances, etc, we have made little to no advancements to improve in the area of dementia care pre-hospital. • When a person with dementia experiences a change in their routine, or is removed from their home environment (eg: to be taken to hospital) these people find this to be very disrupting, distressing, confusing, and the cause of high levels of anxiety. These people are confused already. And by taking them out of their familiar environments, we are giving them a little more confusion. Adding confusion to confusion. This can often cause the development of delirium and can result in prolonged hospital stays, and negative outcomes.