This Practice Question has been published with the kind permission of the Royal College of Nursing.
An ageing population in the UK has resulted in the increasing prevalence of dementia. Many of those affected also live with multiple co-morbidities, which may include stoma formation resulting from bowel surgery. These individuals will fall into two categories: established ostomists who develop dementia and people with dementia who undergo stoma formation. Each scenario will result in several additional challenges for the person and those who care for them.
How do I care for a person with a stoma and dementia?
Challenges and consequences
Symptoms associated with dementia, such as memory loss, language and communication difficulties, deficits in attention and concentration, difficulty performing familiar tasks and problems learning and retaining new skills, can all add to the challenges of managing a stoma. Although some people with dementia retain insight into their condition and are able to receive and process information, many will struggle to maintain independent stoma care. For the established ostomist, their continued ability to self-care independently may be eroded; for the person with a new stoma, their ability to learn and retain the necessary new skill will be impaired (Powell 2013). Ultimately, this loss of independence may result in the need for a move to residential care.
The issues associated with stoma care are not limited to the person living with dementia (Black 2011). The whole care team, including family members and formal carers, require education and support from specialist stoma services to equip them with the competence and confidence to take on this challenging role (Powell 2013). Carers of people living with dementia and stoma may be faced with associated behavioural symptoms including fiddling, inappropriate removal and disposal of the stoma appliance (Black 2011, Colostomy UK 2017). Agitated and distressed behaviour may be a manifestation of the person attempting to communicate a problem such as pain or discomfort.
Practical management
Practical suggestions to avoid the individual fiddling with the stoma bag include adapting clothing, for example, the use of net pants underneath normal underwear and tucking a vest or shirt into pants (Colostomy UK 2017). Attention should also be paid to the choice of appliance used. Dependent on individual needs, an uncomplicated one-piece bag or a two-piece bag to protect the skin might be preferable (Colostomy UK 2017). An opaque appliance might divert attention away from the faecal output (Black 2011). Timely bag changes based on the individual’s regular bowel routine will avoid it becoming heavy and uncomfortable (Colostomy UK 2017). Coleman (2017) suggests the use of twiddle muffs, belts and aprons as a calming, sensory distraction to occupy hands and minds.
An in-depth person-centred knowledge of the individual along with time, patience and consistency of approach is required to help maintain quality of life for a person facing the challenges of dementia and stoma care.
Related article
rcni.com/nursing-older-people/evidence-and-practice/practice-question/how-can-i-comfort-patients-dementia-who-are-distressed-59331
References
Black P (2011) Caring for the patient with a stoma and dementia. Gastrointestinal Nursing. 9, 7, 19-24.
Coleman L (2017) Improving the Care Management for Ostomists Living with Dementia. fabnhsstuff.net/2017/10/30/improving-care-ostomates-living-dementia (Last accessed: 7 June 2018.)
Colostomy UK (2017) Caring for a Person with a Stoma and Dementia. www.colostomyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CUK056-01v00r00-Caring-for-a-person-with-a-stoma-and-dementia.pdf (Last accessed: 11 June 2018.)
Powell C (2013) Using reflection to treat stoma patients with dementia. Gastrointestinal Nursing. 11, 7, 52-60.