Nat’s story – “Being a young carer can be lonely”
Nat reflects on her experience of being a young carer and the support she received from the Nationwide dementia clinic.
Delirium is a state of sudden, intense confusion that can make people increasingly anxious, distressed and disorientated. Delirium is not the same as dementia, but it is common in older people and those living with dementia. Delirium is often triggered by treatable underlying causes such as infection, pain or dehydration, and is a serious medical issue that requires attention.
Our specialist Admiral Nurses explain the signs to be aware of and how you can help a person with dementia who is experiencing delirium.
What is delirium?
Delirium is a state of intense mental confusion that comes on suddenly. It can have a big impact on the way a person behaves and functions, especially if they have dementia.
People with delirium typically become confused and/or disorientated and have difficulty concentrating. It can be very distressing for the person experiencing it and their carers.
Types of delirium
There are three types of delirium: hyperactive, hypoactive and mixed. For older people, including those with dementia, hypoactive and mixed delirium are the most common.
Acute delirium
Sometimes, delirium is described as ‘acute delirium’, however this is not a different type. Delirium is, by nature, acute, in that it comes on suddenly and often severely. It is sometimes referred to as ‘acute confusional state’.
Hyperactive delirium
Hyperactive delirium causes confusion that fluctuates throughout the day. A person who is experiencing hyperactive delirium may:
- hallucinate: for example, seeing or hearing things that are not really there
- be restless or agitated: they may fidget, make repetitive movements, pace or seem unable to stay still
- be resistant to receiving support or personal care, possibly becoming aggressive towards their carers
- be unusually wary of other people
- believe that people are trying to harm them
- not recognise where they are, or who the people around them are
- be confused about the time or day
Hypoactive delirium
Hypoactive delirium is characterised by the person becoming less responsive. They may:
- be unusually sleepy and hard to rouse
- struggle to focus when they are awake
- lack appetite
- seem withdrawn, sluggish or tired
move around less - interact less with the people around them
Mixed delirium
When someone is experiencing mixed delirium, they will have symptoms of both hyperactive and hypoactive delirium and may switch between them. A person with mixed delirium may be sleepy and unfocused one day, and agitated and restless the next.
Symptoms of delirium
It can be difficult to recognise delirium in people with dementia because many of the symptoms are similar: for example, confusion, memory loss and problems with concentration. However, it is important to know the signs and seek medical help quickly if you spot them.
How to spot symptoms of delirium in someone living with dementia
The symptoms of delirium may be cognitive (affecting the person’s ability to remember, think and communicate), behavioural and/or physical. They include:
- a sudden change in mental state and/or behaviour
- disorientation: much more unsure of where they are or what day/time it is
- paranoia and false beliefs, such as thinking someone is trying to harm them
- poor concentration – unable to focus on a conversation with anyone
- sudden increased memory loss
- memory loss
- unusual drowsiness – often missed or put down to tiredness
- feeling agitated and seeming much more restless
- irritability or aggression (eg shouting)
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
- difficulty speaking clearly and following conversations
- vivid dreams – waking up and unable to settle when this is unusual for them
- physical changes, for example, in appetite, thirst or mobility
- falls
Older people with delirium and dementia often need longer stays in hospital, are more prone to falls or accidents, and are more likely to be moved into a care home.
How does delirium differ from dementia?
Dementia
- Develops slowly over months or years
- Is a long-term condition that gradually worsens
- Symptoms are usually similar from day to day
Delirium
- Starts suddenly, often within one or two days
- Can improve quickly with the right treatment
- Symptoms may change a lot throughout the day
- Is a medical emergency that needs urgent care
Important to know
These differences apply to most people, but there can be exceptions. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) can have symptoms similar to delirium. It may be hard to tell the difference without knowing how long symptoms have been present.
If you think the person is seriously or suddenly unwell, take them to A&E or call 999 for an ambulance: in rare cases, delirium or its underlying causes can be life-threatening.
How common is delirium?
Delirium is most common in older adults – particularly those over 80. There is also a strong link between delirium and dementia. Delirium is particularly common on hospital wards, affecting approximately 25-30% of older people and up to 50% of people with dementia. People living in care homes are also more prone to delirium.
What are the causes of delirium?
There are a number of reasons why someone may develop delirium.
Medical conditions that can cause delirium
Medical conditions that can cause delirium include:
- an infection such as a urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Medications such as morphine (opioids), sedatives and antipsychotics
- post-surgery medications
- a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), often known as a ‘mini stroke’
- high and low blood sugar (low blood sugar should be monitored in people with diabetes in particular)
- pain – can be ‘hidden’ (for example, toothache or arthritic pain)
- head injury
- constipation or urine retention
- not eating enough
- not drinking enough (dehydration)
Environmental factors that can cause delirium
Environmental factors that can cause delirium include:
- being in an unfamiliar or distressing environment such as a hospital
- excessive noise and disturbances
- exposure to bright artificial light
- lack of exposure to natural daylight
Medication that can cause delirium
Some types of medication can make delirium more likely, especially if the person is taking multiple medications.
Surgery as a cause of delirium
Up to 50% of older people who have surgery develop delirium. People who have hip surgery are at a particularly high risk, with research suggesting that 70-80% develop delirium.
Age as a cause of delirium
Delirium is more common in people over 65; however, younger people can also be affected.
Diagnosing and treating delirium
Diagnosing delirium
If a person is experiencing symptoms of delirium, it is important to seek medical advice. It can often be diagnosed based on their symptoms. Their healthcare professional should consider their:
- alertness: are they drowsy and withdrawn, or restless and agitated?
- awareness: do they know what year it is and where they are?
- attention: eg can they name the months of the year backwards?
- acute or fluctuating changes: did the changes come on suddenly, and are they varying throughout the day?
The doctor may request blood and urine tests to check for underlying causes, such as an infection, constipation or difficulty passing urine. They should also review any medication that could be contributing to the delirium.
Diagnosing delirium in someone living with dementia
When a healthcare professional meets a person with dementia for the first time, it can be hard to tell the difference between dementia symptoms and delirium. This is why it is important to notice any sudden changes in the person’s behaviour and to ask for tests to check for health problems that can cause delirium.
Treating delirium
Treating delirium usually involves addressing any underlying causes. For example, if the person has an infection, they may be prescribed antibiotics, or if they are constipated, they may be given laxatives.
Medication is not usually given for delirium itself. If the person is particularly distressed, they may be given a short, low-dose course of medication such as a sedative or antipsychotic. However, for some people, particularly those with Lewy body dementia, these medications can make delirium worse, so they should only be used if absolutely necessary – for instance, if the person is at risk of harming themselves or someone else.
Sometimes, there is no treatable cause of delirium; in these cases, the person may just need support, time and rest to recover, ideally in a calm and familiar environment. Family members can help by reassuring them that they are safe, making sure that they are wearing their glasses or hearing aids, and encouraging them to eat and drink.
Supporting someone with delirium
Delirium can be serious, so it is vital that the person receives medical assistance as soon as possible if you notice the symptoms. If the person is at home, contact their GP and ask for an urgent appointment. If they are in hospital, tell the nurse or doctor who is looking after them. If they are in a care home, tell a carer.
If you think the person is seriously or suddenly unwell, take them to A&E or call 999 for an ambulance: in rare cases, delirium or its underlying causes can be life-threatening.
You could also try these ideas to try to ease the person’s distress:
- Keep calm and reassure the person – you might need to remind them who you are, where they are and what day it is
- Speak in short, simple sentences
- Try to distract the person with activities like watching TV, listening to music or looking at photos
- Encourage the person to eat and drink, for example by offering their favourite foods
- Help the person find the toilet if needed
- Stay with them if they are walking around in case of falls
- Keep a dim light on at night
- Avoid disagreeing with the person, even if they are saying unusual things – instead, try to change the topic of conversation
- If the person is in hospital, ask if you can stay with them – many hospitals support John’s Campaign, which encourages unlimited visiting for people who care for someone with dementia
Recovering from delirium
About 60% of people with delirium recover within a week. Some people, however, take longer to recover, and some never return to exactly how they were before – this is more likely if the person is living with dementia. You should also consider whether the person may be in pain (especially chronic pain such as arthritis), which has worsened, and they are struggling to communicate.
Can delirium be prevented?
Delirium cannot always be prevented, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk.
- Make sure the person wears their glasses and/or hearing aids if they need them
- Try to ensure they get enough sleep
- Encourage them to eat and drink regularly. In particular, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and increasing fluids can help prevent constipation
- Help them stay mobile, even if just by walking around the room or doing some stretches in their chair
- Make sure they are practising good hygiene, for example by washing their hands after using the toilet, cleaning medical devices like urinary catheters properly and keeping wounds clean and dressed
- Help them take part in activities that they enjoy, like doing puzzles, knitting, going for walks or seeing friends and family
- If they are in hospital, ask the staff to avoid moving them to a different bed or ward if possible
How does delirium differ from dementia?
When someone has delirium, the symptoms come on very quickly, over the course of one or two days or even a few hours, whereas dementia develops gradually over months or years. The symptoms of delirium also tend to vary a lot throughout the day.
