Interim guidance for health-care professionals and administrators providing hospital care to adult patients with cognitive impairment, in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: We developed interim guidance for the care of patients with cognitive impairment in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A Guidance Committee and Readers Group were recruited. The content was identified by the Committee and content-specific subgroups, resulting in a draft document, which was sent to the Readers for review. People with dementia and care partners were involved in all aspects of the process. RESULTS: Infection control measures can lead to an escalation of distress. In an environment where visiting bans are applied to care partners/advocates, hospitals need to ensure care partners can continue to provide decision-making support. Health-care professionals can proactively engage care partners using videoconferencing technologies. Developing models of care that proactively support best practice can minimise the risk of delirium, mitigate escalating symptoms and guide the use of non-pharmacological, pharmacological (start low, go slow) or physical restraint in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms.

Clinical practice guidelines for dementia in Australia.

About 9% of Australians aged 65 years and over have a diagnosis of dementia. Clinical practice guidelines aim to enhance research translation by synthesising recent evidence for health and aged care professionals. New clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia detail the optimal diagnosis and management in community, residential and hospital settings. The guidelines have been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The guidelines emphasise timely diagnosis; living well with dementia and delaying functional decline; managing symptoms through training staff in how to provide person-centred care and using non-pharmacological approaches in the first instance; and training and supporting families and carers to provide care.

How is the diagnosis of asthma in older people established in clinical practice?

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW: How is breathlessness perceived and defined in older people? What impact does breathlessness have on quality of life? Can history taking and physical examination be tailored to efficiently cover all the organ systems associated with breathlessness? Can a self- or carer-rated questionnaire be used to identify asthma in patients with breathlessness? WHAT WE NEED TO DO: Develop self- and carer-rated questionnaires that measure change in function and quality of life before and after treatment. Validate objective measures of physical function and airflow that are sufficiently sensitive to measure change with treatment. Develop a diagnostic guideline in general practice that includes measures of mood and cognitive function and involves carers where necessary. Provide rehabilitation and restorative care services.