The Experiences of Hospital Admission in a Single Room for Older Persons With Dementia and Their Families: A Scoping Review

Introduction

When older persons with dementia are admitted to hospital, they often feel disoriented and confused and their cognitive impairment may worsen, purely due to the sudden change in their environment. As such hospital design is recognised as an important aspect in the care and well-being of older persons with dementia. As the number of persons with dementia is increasing, the experience of admission to a hospital with, for example, single rooms is more relevant than ever.

Aim and Methods

This scoping review aimed to identify, explore and conceptually map the literature reporting on what older people with dementia and their families experienced during admission to a hospital with single room accommodation. We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations for undertaking a scoping review. In addition, we used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist, which assisted the development and reporting of this scoping review.

Results

We included 10 sources within a time frame of 23 years (1998–2021). The sources originate from Europe, Australia and Canada.

We identified three conceptual maps: Safety and security, Privacy and dignity and Sensorial stimulation. Our review demonstrates that the themes of the three conceptual maps are experienced as mutually interdependent for the older persons with dementia and their families.

Conclusion

We conclude that it is not merely the single room design that determines what the older persons with dementia and their families experience as important; the exposure to sensorial stimulation and the presence of well-trained staff taking a dignified patient-centred approach are also crucial for their experience of high-quality nursing care.