Delirium

In the hospital, the nurse has  always to ask an older patient about risk factors of delirium, such as:

• Have you had delirium before?
• Are there any existing memory problems?
• Are there ADL problems?

Older people who hpreviously had delirium, people with memory problems and people with reduced ADLs have an increased risk of delirium. It is therefore important to identify this early so that  a nurse can take preventive measures.

Older people with dementia have an increased risk of delirium, so it is wise to take preventive measures for someone with early dementia. The risk of delirium is increased by infections, fever, dehydration, electrolyte disorders, polypharmacy, use of drugs with psychoactive effects, bladder catheter, constipation, pain, fixation, sleep/wake disturbances, surgery, immobilization and iatrogenic complications.

 

Reference: Praktijkgids kwetsbare ouderen (2017) Praktijkgids Kwetsbare ouderen – VMS zorg