delirium
Delirium is a medical emergency: an acute state of confusion that commonly affects older people, especially those admitted to hospital. It is hugely distressing for patients, families and carers and increases the risk of mortality. Other potentially serious consequences include longer hospital stays, falls, loss of independence and cognitive decline.
This collection of articles aims to help nurses and care staff to prevent delirium. If prevention is not possible, however, staff should be able to recognise delirium and assess and manage patients in a timely manner.
Please contact Lisa Berry, editor of Nursing Older People, at lisa.berry@rcni.com with your comments, suggestions or feedback and help raise awareness of our content by sharing this resource on social media using the weblink rcni.com/delirium
How do I manage delirium in older people with COVID-19?
Delirium is a common coronavirus symptom, and people in long-term care facilities are at risk
Managing behaviour that challenges in people with dementia in the emergency department
Why you should read this article: • To recognise the potential causes of behaviour that...
Developing a dementia care leaders’ toolkit for older patients with cognitive impairment
Why you should read this article: • To understand the acute hospital experiences of older...
COVID-19: what can we learn from our care and treatment of older people during the...
The pandemic has underlined the importance of identifying older people living with frailty,...
How do I manage the care of an older person with delirium?
Guidelines recommend prompt detection by screening older people on admission to hospital
Nurses should be delirium champions and identify people at risk as early as possible
Many risk factors can be mitigated and nurses need to be knowledgeable about it
Differentiating between dementia, delirium and depression in older people
How to clinically assess, diagnose and treat patients
Engagement between secondary school students and older patients in an acute hospital
A project promoted meaningful interaction between schoolchildren and older patients
Treat delirium as a medical emergency
Delirium is a medical emergency and risk reduction should be considered throughout care
World Delirium Day: nurses will raise awareness of signs, symptoms and treatment
Features of the condition include disorientation, hallucinations and lack of responsiveness
Improving the identification of patients with delirium using the 4AT assessment
Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric disorder that all those working with older people will...
Recognising and managing delirium in patients receiving palliative and end of life care
Why you should read this article: » To improve your awareness of the causes of delirium in...