Delirium in elderly persons in emergency departments

Delirium in elderly persons in emergency departments

Delirium is characterized by acute and fluctuating changes in mental status as well as disturbances of attention and consciousness. It is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, hospital readmissions and institutionalization – making it a medical emergency. People aged 65 and older are more likely to develop delirium because of greater age-related brain vulnerability. From 10 to 18% of older people in emergency departments develop delirium; however, up to 85% of these cases are not detected and therefore, not managed. Given this context, the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) was approached by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) to develop a clinical support tool for the prevention, assessment and management of delirium in elderly persons in emergency departments.

Clinical tools for emergency personnel :

• Clinical support tool : presents best practices and essential information to know about delirium
• Memory aid (1 page) : summarizes the best practices outlined in the Clinical support tool.
• Decision-making algorithm (1 page) : describes the recommended decision-making process when an elderly person presents to emergency.
• Tips for relatives (1 page) : presents tips that can help preventing the onset of delirium, or support your relative who is experiencing delirium.