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Delirium Resources

Information about delirium for families and health care professionals, including tools, flow sheets, quizzes, and health care sector-specific information.

We will continue to update and add new information as it becomes available.

About Delirium 

Delirium in the Older Person (PDF). Tools for recognition, assessment and treatment of delirium are placed in context. A useful teaching handout. Bibliography, 2009 (PDF)

Quick Reference Tools

Delirium Quick Reference Guide (PDF) 
Delirium Decision Tree (PDF)

Prevention

VIHA Delirium Clinical Standards Guidelines [Please contact us]
Drugs That Can Cause Delirium (PDF)

Recognition

Information Pamphlet for Families (PDF) Print legal-size 
Information Pamphlet for Health Care Providers (PDF)Print legal-size
2D - Differentiating Delirium from Dementia (PDF) 
3D - Delirium vs. Dementia vs. Depression (PDF)  
Physiological Changes with Aging (PDF)
You Can Prevent Delirium Poster (PDF) 
Age-Related Changes (PDF) (legal size) 

Assessment

Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) Short form (PDF) 
CAM Training Manual - Hospital Elder Life Program
Laboratory Investigations (PDF)
Behaviour Monitoring Chart (PDF)
Sleep-Wake Monitoring Chart (PDF) 
Sleep Hygiene (PDF)
Symptom Screening Tool (PDF)
Searching for Cause (PDF) Print legal-size
Delirium Superimposed on Dementia - AJN article by Fick, 2008 (with permission).

Intervention

Searching for Solutions (PDF) Print legal-size
Hallucinations and Delusions (PDF)

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Learning about Delirium: Take a Quiz

Age-Related Changes Handout (PDF) Print legal-size. Read before doing game or puzzle
Jeopardy! for Age Related Changes (PDF)
The Delirium Crossword Puzzle (PDF)
2D Quiz (PDF) Delirium or Dementia?
3D Quiz (PDF) Delirium, Dementia or Depression?
Pre / Post Learning Quiz (PDF)

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Professional Practice Resources:

Acute Care

VIHA Delirium Clinical Standards Guidelines [Please contact us]
Common Triggers of Delirium
Delirium Watch ALERT (PDF)
Caring for Hospitalized Older Adults (PDF) S. Dahlke, 2008.
Delirium Watch Program (PDF) Program Evaluation
Case Study (PDF) from RPGc, Ontario 

For additional tools used within VIHA, see Geriatric Medicine on the VIHA Intranet or contact us.

Home & Community Care

Pharmacy Services (PDF)

Residential Care

Best Practice Blogger for LTC (PDF) from RPGc, Ontario

Delirium at End of Life

Victoria Hospice Society: Link to the chapter on Confusion, Delirium and Dementia in their popular textbook Medical Care of the Dying, 4th Ed. (2006).  This chapter contains the latest evidence-based research and practical information on delirium at the end of life. Click Education & Research at  http://www.victoriahospice.com/
Essentials in Palliative Care: A Resource for Caregivers - care strategies for delirium at end of life. Order through http://www.lifeanddeathmatters.ca/  from K Murray, Hospice Palliative Care Nursing Canada

More Information

For other websites and further reading about delirium, see other Useful Delirium Links

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Last update: February 2012