World Delirium Awareness Day, Wednesday 13th March
World Delirium Awareness Day is an annual event that is held on the second Wednesday of March to raise awareness about delirium and its impact on patients, families, and healthcare systems.
What is delirium?
- It is an acute confusional state, generally of sudden onset.
- There may be an obvious cause like an infection, which, if treated may settle quickly.
- Most people make a full recovery
Who is at the highest risk?
- People aged 65 or over
- People with a dementia or cognitive impairment
- People with a hip fracture or recent trouble moving
- People who are acutely ill
What you can do:
- Raise awareness: Share information about delirium with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Identify those at risk: Be aware of the risk factors for delirium. Identify individuals who may be at risk and take steps to prevent or manage delirium. (in ITU we use the CAM-ICU on every shift, on the wards you can use the 4AT assessment tool - found here: 4AT - Rapid Clinical Test for Delirium Detection
- Know the signs: Understand the signs and symptoms of delirium, and be able to recognize them early.
- Support and engage patients and families: Provide education to patients and families who are at risk of delirium and affected by delirium
12/03/2024