How do you recognize delirium?
In care settings staff members regularly look for signs of delirium. However, you or someone who knows you may be the first to notice you're different than usual.
The questions below may help you recognize delirium in a friend or family member. If you check off more than 1 question, please tell your nurse, doctor, or other healthcare provider.
- Is there a sudden change in your ability to do things?
- Do you have more trouble paying attention to what's going on around you?
- Has your behaviour changed in the past few days?
- Does your speech ramble or do you jump from topic to topic? Are your words garbled and hard to understand?
- Do you have more trouble understanding what others say?
- Are you more forgetful than usual?
- Do you have more trouble recognizing people you know?
- Are you more confused about where you are or what time it is?
- Are you more worried, angry, troubled, or sad than usual?
- Does your mood change suddenly?
- Have you started to see or hear things that aren't there?
- Are you more restless or quiet than usual?
- Do you fall asleep during your visits from friends or family or are you harder to wake up?
If you have questions about delirium or dementia call Health Link at 811. You can talk to a registered nurse and ask about the Dementia Advice Line.
