Delirium is a sudden change in behavior, such as confusion, agitation, or lethargy (sleepiness), that is usually the result of an intoxication, a drug reaction, an infection, or simply disorientation from being in the hospital. Older adults with underlying dementia are at increased risk for delirium. Delirium is reversible but can take up to a week to resolve after the cause of it is removed. Patients with delirium in the hospital may require a sitter to keep them safe (see more about sitters below).RelevanceHospitals are paying more attention to preventing delirium in patients as it delays healing and can result in longer nursing home or rehabilitation stays after hospitalization.
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Hip Fractures, an Age-Old, Old Age Misery
In the U.S, there are 300,000 hip fractures a year in people 65 and older, and that number is going up. ⚠️ You need to log into — or first create — an account to view this content or leave a comment.
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Deadly Delirium
The day I showed up at the hospital, Pat’s nightmare had been running almost ceaselessly for several weeks. ⚠️ You need to log into — or first create — an account to view this content or leave a comment.