Nursing care needs of patients with and without dementia admitted to hospital with fractured neck of femur

SummaryThe aim of this study was to compare people with and without dementia with regards to their levels of functioning prior to fractured neck of femur (NOF), nursing care needs, and length of hospitalisation and discharge destination. Data were extracted from the medical records of 50 patients with fractured NOF and dementia and 50 patients with a fractured NOF who did not have dementia. Patients with dementia were more likely to have been admitted from a residential aged care facility, were more impaired prior to admission, and had more care needs relating to agitation, confusion, eating and drinking, intravenous cannulae, showering and dressing, and incontinence. People with dementia spent two more days in acute care and were less likely to be discharged to a rehabilitation facility. The placement of patients with dementia in dedicated areas of orthopaedic wards, where nurses with specialised skills are able to care for them, and use of practice guidelines are possible solutions to address the current inequity in care.