Mental status change in the elderly: recognizing and treating delirium

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nursing
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Delirium is a frequent cause of acute mental status changes in hospitalized elderly individuals.
• Clinical nurses may lack awareness regarding delirium presentation, differentiation from other conditions, and appropriate interventions.
• Existing literature and clinical experience highlight a gap in nursing knowledge about delirium in older patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the presentation and differentiation of delirium in the elderly.
• To examine appropriate nursing interventions for patients experiencing delirium.
• To present original data on nursing assessment of delirium and introduce an educational module for clinical nurses.

Main Methods:

• The study involved original data collection from nursing assessments of patients with delirium at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA.
• A review of existing literature on delirium presentation and nursing interventions was conducted.
• An educational module was developed for teaching clinical nurses about delirium in elderly patients.

Main Results:

• Data from Beth Israel Hospital indicated specific findings regarding nursing assessments in patients with delirium.
• The article details how delirium presents and differs from other mental status changes in the elderly.
• An educational module was created to address identified knowledge gaps in clinical nurses.

Conclusions:

• Improving nurses' understanding of delirium presentation and appropriate interventions is crucial for elderly patient care.
• The developed educational module can enhance nursing practice concerning delirium in older adults.
• Enhanced nursing assessment and knowledge are vital for effectively managing delirium in hospitalized elderly patients.