Lone Sloane: Delirius

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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. 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. Mayer SA, et al. Delirium and amnesia. In: On Call Neurology. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. 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.

Francis J Jr. Delirium and acute confusional states: Prevention, treatment, and prognosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. We can often tell that my father is getting a urinary infection because he starts to get slower and becomes quiet and withdrawn. He also sleeps much more.” Agitation or restlessness Attention. The ability to stay focused or maintain focus is impaired with delirium. A person in the early stages of dementia remains generally alert. Someone with dementia often isn't sluggish or agitated.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.

Delirium often occurs in people with dementia. However, episodes of delirium don't always mean a person has dementia. Tests for dementia shouldn't be done during a delirium episode because the results could be misleading. 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. 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. It is not always possible to prevent delirium. However, if you're at risk of delirium, there are some things that you can do to reduce the risk yourself. These things can also help you to recover from delirium when you're in hospital.

Mental health

Delirium usually gets better. In 6 out of 10 people (60%), the symptoms disappear within 6 days. Others may have some symptoms for longer. About 1 in 20 people (5%) may still have delirium more than a month after they first had symptoms.