New THINK DELIRIUM resources for West Yorkshire and Harrogate

Posted on: 11 January 2021

Colleagues from Yorkshire and the Humber clinical network and West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership have come together to work on a National Dementia pilot and have produced some THINK DELIRIUM resources.

Delirium is a condition where people have increased confusion, changes in thinking and a reduced attention span. Symptoms can develop quickly and often fluctuate during the day.

It can happen to anyone but there are some things that put a person at higher risk. These include older age, hearing and sight loss, a diagnosis of dementia, having multiple health problems, being in hospital with a broken hip or serious illness.  Delirium is also known as ‘acute confusion’.  It is treatable - but if it is undetected then it can be a life-threatening condition.

The THINK DELIRIUM resources are aimed to increase general awareness of delirium in the hope that it can be prevented or treated quickly when found early so that any serious complications can be avoided.

A new e-learning module provides the baseline knowledge and skills required by all staff working in health and social care settings and also for those working in an individual's own home. It is also aimed at carers of people who may be more at risk of developing delirium.

Delirium Dramas are acted out scenarios of people experiencing delirium in different setting, in the acute hospital, in a care home and in a domiciliary care setting.  They should be a useful tool for skilled educators to use in delirium awareness sessions.

dr sara humphrey.jpgAssociate Clinical Director for Frailty, Dementia and Learning Disability at Bradford District and Craven NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and GP with a Special Interest in Older People, Dr Sara Humphrey, said:

“Recording and sharing information about delirium is key and our tool, My Future Wishes, provides a useful place for people in primary care and carers to share information about delirium with other health care professionals and the person’s family. Recording an episode of delirium in the tool will ensure others are aware of future risks once someone has had delirium, helping everyone to deliver the best and most appropriate care.”

 

 

 

 

 

Accessibility tools

Return to header