Lone Sloane: Delirius

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tips for family caregivers. Caregiver Action Network. http://caregiveraction.org/resources/10-tips-family-caregivers. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. In hospital, you can tell the nurse or doctor looking after the person about the symptoms you have noticed. At home, you can talk to a GP. Frequently asked questions about caregiving. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/frequently-asked-questions-about-caregiving. Accessed Sept. 20, 2022. Onset. The onset of delirium occurs within a short time — within a day or two. Dementia usually begins with minor symptoms that get worse over time. Mart MF, et al. Prevention and management of delirium in the intensive care unit. Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2021; doi:10.1055/s-0040-1710572.

Some people may become paranoid (suspicious) and mistrustful of the people around them. These thoughts can sometimes become distressing. Some people with delirium need to come into hospital to manage the condition or what is causing it. They might also be in hospital for another reason and get delirium during their stay. Some people may have memory loss. Problems with short-term memory are particularly common. People with delirium may not remember what has happened or where they are. Sleepiness My father became very confused. He was sleepy at times, and agitated and restless at other times. The community nurses gave him medicine to help control his symptoms.” HallucinationsThe doctors and nurses test for and manage any causes of delirium that can be treated. Examples are: There are various symptoms that can help a family member or carer to recognise delirium. If you notice any of these symptoms, please tell a doctor or nurse. When a person leaves hospital after delirium, they may need more support than usual. They may be at higher risk of falls and need some changes in the home to make sure that their environment is safe. Recovery depends to some extent on the health and mental status before symptoms began. People with dementia, for example, may experience an overall decline in memory and thinking skills after a delirium episode. People in better health are more likely to fully recover. Hypoactive delirium. People with this type may be inactive or have reduced activity. They tend to be sluggish or drowsy. They might seem to be in a daze. They don't interact with family or others.

If you think that extra support may be needed, speak to the doctors and nurses on the ward before your loved one goes home. There are many ways that we can support people who leave hospital after delirium. Any condition that results in a hospital stay increases the risk of delirium. This is mostly true when someone is recovering from surgery or is put in intensive care. Delirium is more common in older adults and in people who live in nursing homes.Rapid changes in symptoms. Delirium symptoms can come and go several times during the day. While people with dementia have better and worse times of day, their memory and thinking skills typically stay at a constant level. Depending on how bad the delirium is, a person may need to go into hospital for treatment and management. For others, delirium can be treated at home. Delirium can be a frightening condition for those who have it, together with their family and carers. Not everyone remembers delirium, but those that do may find the memories distressing. Walls RM, et al., eds. Geriatric trauma. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 21, 2022.

Delirium is a state of mental confusion that starts suddenly and is caused by a physical condition of some sort. You don’t know where you are, what time it is, or what’s happening to you. It is also called an 'acute confusional state'.Jankovic J, et al., eds. Delirium. In: Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022.