| [ Summary ] |
The average age of dialysis patients isover 60 years of age and that of new patients being introduced to dialysis is near 65 years old. The number of psychiatric problems often seen in old people is increasing in relation to the number of elderly patients. Especially, the number of relatively slight dementia, behavioral and psychological symptoms related to dementia (BPSD) is increasing in elderly dialysis patients. Psychotic problems, such as delirium, hallucinations, delusions, etc often perplex patients' families and medical staffs. Patients with slight dementia produce problems for their families, the medical staffs and BPSD contributes to the obstruction of their treatment.
A care insurance system for elderly people began last year. But, many problems have already appeared. The number of doctors and related staffs who can precisely diagnose the degree of dementia and estimate the necessity of care is not yet sufficient. Patients with slight dementia are difficult subjects for the care system. The medical staffs of dialysis treatment and care units need to understand the nature of slight dementia and suitably respond to dialysis patients having dementia and BPSD. |