19/09/2025
🧠 PINCH ME: A mnemonic to help spot delirium and identify triggers for stress in people living with dementia.
Delirium is a sudden, acute confusional state that can be distressing for both the person experiencing it and those around them. It’s especially common in people living with dementia during end-of-life care, where communication barriers make it harder to identify what’s wrong.
To help carers and families explore possible causes of distress, the British Geriatrics Society introduced the PINCH ME mnemonic:
P – Pain
I – Infection
N – Nutrition
C – Constipation
H – Hydration
M – Medication
E – Environment
Each letter prompts us to consider a potential trigger for sudden changes in behaviour or mood.
At Bupa, we’ve adapted PINCH ME to support dementia care in residential and nursing homes. It’s a reminder to look beyond the surface and do the detective work when someone can’t tell us what’s wrong. As Fran Vandelli, Bupa Dementia Lead explains, “The PINCH ME model can stop us from making unhelpful (or even harmful) assumptions and can remind us to leave no stone unturned”
Let’s raise awareness this and empower carers with tools that make a difference. 💙
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