WDAD 2025 - Delirium Care in NSM SGS - It's Everyone's Business!
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 was this year's day to recognize the significant work being done to bring attention to the serious issue of dementia. NSM SGS staff were active throughout the region helping inform and educate about the daily challenges for folks dealing with delirium.
Delirium is everyone's business!
Often delirium goes undetected. Or misdiagnosed as dementia or depression. Screening and prompt assessment are important. Identifying and addressing delirium will help prevent and reduce further patient decline, Emergency Department visits, hospital admissions, longer lengths of stay in hospital, unnecessary long-term care home placement and even death. Up to 75% of older adults experience delirium after acute illness or surgery. One-third of medical and hip fracture hospital patients, and at least one- half of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, experience some form of delirium.
Since 2020, NSM Specialized Geriatric Services has worked with area partners to raise awareness of delirium throughout our region, across all sectors. If you know of someone who may be exhibiting signs of delirium, help them take action to address the issue.
Here are a few facts about delirium:
Delirium is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY that requires immediate attention. It is often a sign of serious disease in older adults and needs to be identified and managed quickly.
Delirium (or acute confusion) is a sudden change that causes confusion and uncharacteristic behaviours. Care partners often describe a sudden change in thinking, memory or personality.
While there are several key signs/symptoms, screening focuses on four key areas:
Fluctuations in presentation and behaviours (confusion and behaviours fluctuate over the course of a day)
Inattention (difficulty focusing and concentrating)
Disorganized thinking (rambling, incoherent speech unpredictable switching of subjects)
Altered level of consciousness (hyperactive, hypoactive)
Delirium is often not detected or misdiagnosed as dementia or depression. Systematic screening and prompt assessment are important. Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance of recovery.
There are three types of delirium: hyperactive (restless, agitated), hypoactive (drowsy, lethargic) and mixed. The most frequently underdiagnosed subtype is hypoactive.
Delirium can often be prevented. Awareness of its potentially modifiable risk factors is key to prevention. Prevention is the best treatment.
Delirium can often be reversed with proper assessment and treatment by an interdisciplinary team.
Stats:
Up to 75% of older adults experience delirium after acute illness or surgery. It is very common in hospital settings - 1/3 medical and hip fracture patients; 1/2 ICU patients.
75% will recover from delirium in days/week. 25% will have persistent delirium that may last for months and, in some cases, never resolve.
*Information provided by the International Federation of Delirium Societies
