認知機能低下を伴う高齢者に対する，急性期病院での認知症ケアチームにおける作業療法実践の検討

The evaluation of occupational therapy interventions in a dementia support team in an acute hospital for elderly patients with cognitive impairments

要旨：急性期病院での認知症ケアチームにおける作業療法実践を検討した．認知機能低下を伴う運動器疾患術後の高齢者16名を調査した結果，認知機能改善はMini Mental State Examination-Japaneseではなく，Functional Independence Measure（以下，FIM）cognitiveに認められた．また，FIM motorに改善を認め，行動・心理症状，せん妄，向精神薬内服，テープ付き紙おむつの使用数，身体拘束使用数は減少した．作業療法士の認知症ケアチームへの関わりは，急性期医療における高齢者ケアに役立つことが示唆された．

　The aim of this study was to evaluate occupational therapy interventions in a dementia support team in an acute hospital. Postoperative elderly patients with musculoskeletal disease with impaired cognitive function were assessed. The results show an improvement in cognitive function was found in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), but not the Japanese Mini Mental State Examination. Moreover, the FIM motor improved, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, delirium, psychotropic drug use, disposable diaper use, and physical restraint use decreased. These observations imply that dementia support teams involving occupational therapists could be useful for elderly care in acute hospital care settings.