What have we come to that we make older women and men share a room in hospital?  This is even more outrageous when one or more have dementia, strip, wander and intrude - and/or when people who are cognitively intact show frustration and intolerance with people experiencing dementia/ delirium.

Older people of today have not shared toilets, bed rooms and ensuites with people of the opposite sex unless they were partners.  There is a host of evidence to show how the environment hinders or helps healing.  We need to use that evidence and plan accordingly.  The anxiety caused by seeing a stranger strip - or even have to sleep in the same room with them is not conducive to recovery.  Managers - use the evidence and bed planning to support older people getting out of your hospital; do not make them sicker and less functional and then label them bed blockers!