Hospital induced delirium can be a very frightening issue during hospitalization. Experts estimate that approximately half of all elderly adults in the United States who end up hospitalized will contract hospital induced delirium. This is a change in cognitive functioning or awareness that can lead to many different issues and consequences for your aging parent. From increased risk of falling to higher potential for death in the next year, delirium can make a serious negative impact on your parents current health, and ability to overcome other health problems that led to their hospitalization.
By understanding delirium and its potential causes, you can take steps to help protect your parents from delirium, and work with their medical team to guide them through it if they do develop it.
Some potential causes for hospital induced delirium include:
- Taking certain types of medication
- Experiencing toxicity or negative interactions with certain medications
- Experiencing withdrawal from alcohol or other substance
- Pain
- Recovering from extensive surgery
- Dehydrate
- Presence of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease
- Sleep deprivation
- Serious emotional distress
- Infection
- Fever
- Use of sleep medication
- Use of pain medications, especially strong medications, or long term use of such medications
It is important to note that most cases of delirium do not have just one cause. Instead, several different factors combined could result in delirium. This is why the most effective forms of management and treatment are generally multifaceted.
If you notice any changes in your parents functioning, mental status, or behavior, bring them to the attention of the medical team immediately. The sooner your parent is diagnosed with delirium, the sooner the cause can be identified, and management and treatment can begin. This helps to reduce the risk of serious complications and consequences, and keep your parent on track with their recovery from other health problems, surgery, injury, or other situations.
Home care isn’t just about managing ongoing needs, or helping your parent stay healthy. While the personalized services of a home care services provider can absolutely benefit your parents physical health, they can also be valuable for mental and emotional health, activity and independence, and overall quality of life.
If your aging parent has been suffering health complications that require more care than you are able to provide, or you simply think they would benefit from having more people in their life, now maybe the perfect time for you to consider home care for them. Introducing this type of care can help your parent through a recovery, help them to manage ongoing health problems, or can simply be a source of companionship and support for a more active and fulfilling life. As a family caregiver, this can ease your stress, and make you feel better about your senior as they age in place.
Sources: https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/hospital-delirium-what-to-do/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/delirium/symptoms-causes/syc-20371386
If you or an aging loved one are in need of Home Care Services in Great Neck NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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