Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) Awareness in Senior Living

Angie Szumlinski
|
October 30, 2024
Elderly man holding his head.

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) is a form of cognitive decline that involves deterioration in the nervous system’s activities, particularly common among patients undergoing cardiac or orthopedic surgery. POCD is prevalent, with 20%-50% of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty showing signs within one week of surgery, and 10%-14% still exhibiting symptoms after three months. This Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) awareness is essential for all senior living staff to consider when supporting residents’ post-surgery.

POCD is characterized by mild neurological disturbances, leading to cognitive decline that can persist for weeks, months, or even years. Often mistaken for postoperative delirium, accurate diagnosis of POCD requires a validated assessment tool, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the Wechsler Memory Scale, or the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Now that you have been educated in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD), does it raise a flag for you? Consider how many of your residents may be at risk for falls. When was the last time you evaluated the effectiveness of your fall prevention program? Is the program proactive, identifying high-risk residents before the first fall, or is it reactive? We all know that sometimes residents fall no matter how proactive we are, but saving even one hip from injury means avoiding a surgery that could lead to POCD.

Stay well and stay informed!

For more information on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction, visit the following sites:

Postoperative neurocognitive disorders: A clinical guide – ScienceDirect

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (duke.edu)


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