Accepted for/Published in: Interactive Journal of Medical Research
Date Submitted: Jun 3, 2023
Date Accepted: May 13, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Ad-Hoc Modifications to a High Dependency Psychiatric Unit for Persons with Dementia During the COVID-19 Period
ABSTRACT
The spread of COVID-19 required significant reorganization of the Singapore Healthcare system to support the number of COVID cases and the rise of COVID-related mental health issues. Limited social engagements and daycare programs led to more behavioral exacerbations in persons with dementia (PWD). Increased contact between family members and PWD from ‘stay home’ policies led to greater caregiver burnout and hospitalizations for respite care. Due to the shortage of beds in the dementia ward of a tertiary psychiatric care facility, PWD are occasionally lodged in the High Dependency Psychiatric Unit (HDPCU), designed for severely aggressive or suicidal patients. Dementia wards have specific modifications to help facilitate orientation, alleviate confusion, and minimize agitation. We provide insight on ad-hoc modifications used in the HDPCU to accommodate the dementia population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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