Peri-operative care for people with dementia: Challenges and solutions

An increasing incidence of dementia among the UK population means patients with cognitive impairment will be more likely to present for surgical procedures. The nature of dementia, with loss of memory, impaired understanding or perception of events and reduced communication skills, means that surgical procedures present greater challenges to this sector of the community. Greater understanding of those challenges will enable nurses and healthcare practitioners to provide better care to people with this debilitating disease. Aspects of the specific challenges in perioperative care are discussed, alongside some recommendations for future improvements in this area.