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Published on: September 30, 2020
Dementia Caregivers' Preferences for Involvement in Delirium Care During Hospitalization
Blair P Golden1, Brooke Johnson1, Laura Block2
1Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|August 3, 2026
Summary
Family caregivers’ experiences with acute cognitive changes in hospitalized dementia patients vary. Understanding these diverse experiences is key to developing tailored support for delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Dementia Care
- Delirium Research
Background:
- Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) affects nearly half of hospitalized adults with dementia, leading to adverse outcomes.
- Family caregivers are crucial for DSD prevention and management, yet their experiences and preferences for involvement are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore family caregivers' experiences with acute cognitive changes during hospitalization in patients with dementia.
- To understand caregivers' preferences for involvement in delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 22 family caregivers of hospitalized dementia patients.
- Interviews focused on caregiver experiences with acute cognitive changes and preferences for DSD care involvement.
- Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data.
Main Results:
- Caregivers identified acute cognitive changes but were often unfamiliar with the term 'delirium.'
- Caregivers navigated changes through recognition, interpretation, and action phases, with interpretations varying from normative to concerning.
- Caregiver role, knowledge, distress, and priorities influenced their navigation and preferences for DSD care involvement.
Conclusions:
- Caregivers' engagement with acute cognitive changes in dementia is diverse and influenced by their care preferences.
- Flexible, caregiver-centered interventions are needed to address the varied needs and readiness of caregivers in DSD care.
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