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People with dementia with covid-19 are at risk of infecting others in special housing, but by law they should not be kept isolated. This is what the Swedish municipalities and regions (SKR) want to change in the crown crisis. “Several municipalities have reached out to us and said there is a problem,” says Greger Bengtsson, senior care coordinator at SKR.
Older people with dementia infected with covid-19 roam certain special accommodations in Sweden. Now, Sweden’s municipalities and regions want to see a change in the law that allows them to be isolated more, and in emergencies. Stock Photography.
According to dementia care in Sweden, staff are trying to prevent the mobility of people infected with covid-19, according to Greger Bengtsson in Sweden’s regions and municipalities. According to SKR, several municipalities testify to the same problem: people infected with crowns sick with dementia who walk through special homes.
– Even if he tries as much as possible to allow infected people in their own apartments to open the door and go out, and infect others in the accommodation, Greger Bengtsson tells TT and continues:
– It could also be that someone says: “I want to go out.” Then you can try to motivate the person to stay home, but in the end you have to open the door.
According to the Infectious Protection Law, a person with a dangerous disease can be isolated under certain conditions, for example, if he is not prepared or cannot voluntarily follow certain measures. Isolation decisions can only be made if there is a real risk that other people will become infected, and it is administrative law that makes a decision after a request from an infectious surgeon.
But isolation should only take place in regionally managed healthcare facilities, such as hospitals.
Therefore, in a request to the Ministry of Social Affairs, SKR requests that the legislation be temporarily amended to limit infection within dementia care. They want to give infection control doctors the opportunity, as an emergency measure, to isolate people in special nursing homes.
– It is not good for people with dementia to be transferred to hospitals if they do not need hospital care. It’s safer for the dementia patient to be in a retirement home, says Greger Bengtsson.
The press secretary of the Minister of Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren, confirms to TT that the Ministry of Social Affairs has received a post of origin and that the proposals are being reviewed. However, Hallengren declined to comment.
Covid-19 may exacerbate symptoms
On April 24, the National Board of Health issued a document on working methods on covid-19 for people with dementia in special homes for the elderly. The document is intended for staff and managers of these homes and includes, among other things, general tips to minimize the spread of infection, for example, to share premises or to keep doors of individual apartments closed.
People over the age of 70 belong to a risk group with respect to covid-19. In special forms of nursing home, there are several people with dementia, who often have a degree of cognitive failure. This can lead to difficulties in understanding the meaning of the restrictions or the consequences of the situation.
“In the case of dementia, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) can occur. This can be, for example, concern, migratory behavior, or aggression. BPSD can also be caused or exacerbated by covid19,” writes the National Board. of health.
Source: Document of the National Board of Health and Welfare: Working methods in covid-19 in people with dementia in special homes for the elderly.
