Delirium (confusion) - Dementia UK

Delirium is a treatable condition and may co-exist with dementia. However, it is sometimes difficult to recognise in people with dementia ... Skiptocontent Youarehere:Home/Latestnews/Delirium(confusion) Delirium(confusion)April24,2017 DementiaUK Asuddenchangeinaperson’smentalstateisknownasdelirium.Deliriumcouldleadtoincreasedconfusion,disorientation,ordifficultywithconcentration,andcancomeonveryquickly.Itcanoccurwhenyouaremedicallyunwellandcanbecausedbyinfections,painordehydration.Itcanhaveasignificantimpactonthewayapersonbehavesandfunctions,especiallyiftheyalsohavedementia.Deliriumcanbeverydistressingbothfortheindividualandthepeoplewhoarecaringforthem. Deliriumanddementia Deliriumisatreatableconditionandmayco-existwithdementia.However,itissometimesdifficulttorecogniseinpeoplewithdementiabecauseithassimilarsymptomssuchasconfusionanddifficultieswiththinkingandconcentration. Deliriumcanlastforafewdays,weeksorevenmonthsbutitmaytakelongerforpeoplewithdementiatorecover. Inhospitals,approximately20-30%ofolderpeopleonmedicalwardswillhavedeliriumandupto50%ofpeoplewithdementia.Between10-50%ofpeoplehavingsurgerycandevelopdelirium. Olderpeoplewithdeliriumanddementiahavebeenfoundtohavelongerstaysinhospital;beatincreasedriskofcomplicationssuchasfalls,accidentsorpressuresores;andbemorelikelytobeadmittedintolong-termcare. Inextremecases,deliriumcanbefatal,soit’svitalthatthepersonreceivestreatmentassoonaspossible. Symptomsofdelirium Therearetwotypesofdelirium.Peoplewithhyperactivedeliriumexperienceincreasedconfusionthatfluctuatesthroughoutthedayandcanfeelagitatedorrestless.Peoplewithhypoactivedeliriummayfeelmoresleepyandbelessresponsive. Othersymptomsofdeliriuminclude:seeingthingsthatarenotthereorhavingvividdreamsthatareworseatnight;difficultyinfocusingattention;andproblemswithfollowingaconversation. Peoplewhohavehaddeliriumsaythey: feltunsureoftheirwhereabouts worriedthatotherpeopleweretryingtoharmthem feltafraid,irritable,anxiousordepressed feltslowandsleepy feltagitatedandrestless hadvividdreamsthatcontinuedwhentheywokeup foundithardtofollowwhatisbeingsaid founditdifficulttospeakclearly sawandheardthingsthatwerenotthere. Whoismoreatriskofdelirium? peoplewithdementia peoplewhoaredehydratedorhaveapoorappetite peoplewithaninfection(althoughlowlevelinfectionmaynotshowupontests) peoplewhoareconstipatedorhaveurineretention olderpeople peoplewhohavehadsurgery,particularlyhipsurgery olderpeopletakingmultiplemedications peoplewithsightandhearingdifficulties peoplewhoarenearingtheendoftheirlife peoplewhoareinpain peopleinanunfamiliarordistressingenvironment. Whattodo Contacttheperson’sGPforanurgentassessmentandadvice.IfaGPisunavailableandtheconfusionordisorientationhascomeonsuddenlycontactthedutydoctorwho,ifnecessary,willarrangeanambulance. Howisdeliriumtreated? Thedoctormayrequestbloodandurinetestsandwillbeabletodecideonappropriatetreatment.Theymayalsowanttoreviewanymedicationthatcouldbecontributingtothedelirium. Thereisalsoevidencethatdeliriumcanbepreventedbytargetingpotentialcauses.Youcanmitigateagainstsomeofthecausesoftheconfusion,likeconstipation,dehydrationandinfection,byensuringthepersonstayswellhydrated,observeshandhygieneandfollowsanyadvicethey’regivenaboutwoundcareandmedicaldevices(suchasurinarycatheters).Ifpossible,youshouldalsoavoidthepersonmovingbedsorwardsinhospital. WhatcanIdotohelpsomeonewithdelirium? Ifyouhavecontactedtheperson’sGPandareawaitingtreatment,thereareafewthingsyoucoulddotomakethesituationalittleeasierforthem: keepcalmandreassuretheperson useshortsimplesentenceswhentalking observethepersontoseeiftheyareinanypain makesurethere’snothingobscuringtheirsenses,andhavetheirglassesandhearingaidtohandiftheyusethem usefamiliarphotosandobjectstodistractthepersonandprovidefamiliarity helpgroundthepersonbymakingsuretheyknowthetimeanddate helpthepersontofindthetoiletifneeded avoidtoomuchstimulationandhavingtoomanypeoplearoundifpossible keepalowlightonatnight avoiddisagreeingwiththepersontoomuch;changethesubjectiftheyexpressideasthatseemoddtoyou offerthemdrinkstomaintainhydration. DementiaHelpline TheAdmiralNurseDementiaHelplineisforanyonewithaquestionorconcernaboutdementia. Findoutmore Deliriumleaflet Viewourinformationleafletondelirium(confusion)inpeoplelivingwithdementia. Findoutmore