A large percentage of elderly adults who are hospitalized because of illness, infection, injury, surgery, or other issues will develop hospital-induced delirium. This is an altered state of mind characterized by changes in behavior, cognition, and engagement in the world around them. This condition can develop extremely quickly, and be very dangerous for your senior. Elderly adults who experience delirium are more likely to suffer serious health consequences related to the issue that caused them to be hospitalized, and are at risk for death within the next year. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent delirium, and also to manage it if it does develop. As a family caregiver, you are an important advocate for your senior, and can give them support and assistance designed to help them cope and to get past this condition effectively.
Use these tips to help you effectively support a senior who is dealing with delirium:
- Bring up any concerns you notice to the medical team. Many cases of delirium go unnoticed, which means the effects can be worse. If you notice changes in your parent that worry you, bring them up to the nurses and doctors so they pay attention.
- Make the surroundings more relaxing and peaceful for your parent. If they are struggling with dementia symptoms, make them as calm as possible, which might include asking for a private room or a room further away from noisy areas of the hospital.
- Encourage your senior to engage with you. Talk to them, play a game, listen to music together. Keep their brain active and working.
- Encourage your parent to get physically active. As soon as it is safe and healthy, get your parent up and moving around to keep their brain sharp.
Nearly every family caregiver gets to a point in their care experience with their senior loved one when they feel overwhelmed, have scheduling conflicts, or otherwise are not able to give them the care they need. This can be a frustrating and upsetting experience for both of you. If you are facing the situation of feeling as though you cannot give your senior the care they need, respite care may be the ideal solution. With this type of home care, a provider steps in on a temporary or urgent basis to give your senior consistent, dedicated care. This is ideal if you need a few hours away from your care routine because you have another event or activity you must complete, a few days away due to illness, or even some time to take a break or go on vacation. The in-home senior care services provider will follow your senior’s routine as much as possible and give them the dedicated level of care necessary to keep them safe and healthy, so you can do what you need to do while still feeling confident they’re getting the care they need.
If you or someone you know needs home care in Hutchinson, MN, contact Adara Home Health Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 660-5772 for more information.
Source
https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/hospital-delirium-what-to-do/