# Acute Care of Persons Living with Dementia: From the Clinic to the ED and Back > Dr. Christina Prather joins GEMCast to share practical tips, real-world stories, and insights into the complexities of caring for patients with cognitive impairment in the ED. About This Podcast In this episode of GEMCast, Dr. Christina Shenvi sits down with Dr. Christina Prather, director of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at George Washington University, for a dynamic, coffee-style conversation about innovations and challenges in geriatric emergency care. They explore strategies for supporting older adults with dementia, preventing avoidable ED visits, and advancing patient-centered care through better communication, system protocols, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Listen in for practical tips, real-world stories, and insights on how emergency clinicians and leaders can better navigate the complexities of cognitive impairment and deliver compassionate, collaborative care to our aging population. Play the Episode https://youtu.be/6bgPUdbkC-g Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe on iTunes Key Points Use open-ended questions with older adults to assess cognition and function (e.g., “What did you eat for breakfast?”). Perform brief cognitive screening (e.g., Mini-Cog) for at-risk or suspicious cases. Review and verify medication adherence before adding or changing prescriptions. Clearly communicate and confirm understanding of discharge instructions using teach-back. Escalate concerns about cognitive or functional decline for collaborative team evaluation. Build protocols for identifying high-risk geriatric patients, including specific triggers for consults. Revise phone triage scripts and workflows to better serve patients with dementia. Ensure timely follow-up (appointments or calls) for vulnerable patients after ED visits/hospital discharge. Strengthen relationships between emergency teams, social work, primary care, and community resources. Invest in staff training and support to build sustainable geriatric care systems. PODCAST | May 27, 2024 What ED Physicians Need to Know About New Amyloid Targeting Treatments: Side Effects and Treatment Cautions Part 1 & 2 In this 2-part series, Dr. Shenvi is joined by two guests: Dr. Richard Isaacson, a neurologist and Director of Research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, and Dr. Kevin Biese, an associate professor at UNC Chapel Hill and director of the Geriatric ED Collaborative and Geriatric ED accreditation programs. In Part 1, they delve into how ATTs work, which patients are good candidates for them, complications that may arise, and the financial implications of these new drug. Play Part 1 Part 2 uses case scenarios to illustrate the decision-making challenges faced by ED care providers. Play Part 2 ONLINE LEARNING | SAGE From Distress to De-Escalation: Managing Agitation in Patients with Delirium or Dementia Agitation in older adults can result from a variety of causes, including delirium, dementia, psychiatric illness, or unmet medical needs. This high-yield session equips learners to distinguish between common sources of agitation and apply a tiered approach to management, starting with non-pharmacologic strategies. Special consideration is given to medication safety in vulnerable populations, such as those with Parkinson’s or Lewy Body Dementia. Explore Course ONLINE LEARNING | Geri-EM Cognitive Impairment in the Older ED Patient This module explores why the 3Ds – Delirium, Dementia, and Depression – are essential topics in the ED and how their presentations can often be misleading for health care providers. We‘ll introduce some ED-friendly screening tools and strategies for managing the symptoms of delirium and dementia that can be challenging for patients, family members and care-givers. Explore Course Next, listen to Fire, Flood, and Fragility: Disasters Through a Geriatric Lens with Dr. Stephen Gamboa. Play Episode View All Dementia Resources >