Delirium and Dementia
Dementia: Break down tasks to individual steps to be done one at a time. Patients are unable to learn
new things. Patients usually forget things relatively quickly.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Patient may experience ataxia (inability to walk). Alleviate distracting stimuli and
ensure environment is calm/quiet (ex: excessive noise, loud devices, too many staff members, etc.).
Early Stage: client demonstrate isolativeness, short term memory loss, forgetfulness, and lack of interest
in life.
Final/Terminal Stage: Clients are incapable of self-care, in extreme physical decline, unable to recognize
family, and death soon occurs.
Assessment: Orientation status: Client’s name, Current location where the client is, Current date and
time.
Disturbed Sleep Pattern: Sleep deprivation can cause or contribute to disorientation and confusion.
A backrub, glass of warm milk, and a soothing conversation may help the patient relax
and fall asleep.
Schedule medications or treatments at times that do not interrupt nightÝme sleep.
Presence of a family member may help calm an agitated and confused patient.
Risk for injury: Avoid physical restraints: increase anxiety and agitation in confused patients; can result in
injuries. Increases impaired thinking.
DPOA: A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document that designates an individual
authorized to make health care decisions for a client who is unable.
The DPOA has the legal authority to make decisions pertaining to the client’s medical care. The
DPOA should be familiar with the client’s wishes.
Immobility
Immobility: Restriction imposed on all or part of the body, Physical factors, such as joint disease,
paralysis, or pain; psychological factors, such as depression or fear,
Therapy: Pain relief; prevent further injury of a part, as in a fractured bone, Reduced workload of the
heart in a cardiac condition, Healing and repair, To reverse the effects of gravity, as in abdominal hernias
and prolapsed organs.
Psychosocial changes can impair mobility, Depression, Dementia, Bereavement, Lack of
motivation, Fear of falling, Isolation, Loss of friends.
Pressure Ulcers: Identifying the risk of patient developing pressure ulcer is the first step in treatment.
Dementia: Break down tasks to individual steps to be done one at a time. Patients are unable to learn
new things. Patients usually forget things relatively quickly.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Patient may experience ataxia (inability to walk). Alleviate distracting stimuli and
ensure environment is calm/quiet (ex: excessive noise, loud devices, too many staff members, etc.).
Early Stage: client demonstrate isolativeness, short term memory loss, forgetfulness, and lack of interest
in life.
Final/Terminal Stage: Clients are incapable of self-care, in extreme physical decline, unable to recognize
family, and death soon occurs.
Assessment: Orientation status: Client’s name, Current location where the client is, Current date and
time.
Disturbed Sleep Pattern: Sleep deprivation can cause or contribute to disorientation and confusion.
A backrub, glass of warm milk, and a soothing conversation may help the patient relax
and fall asleep.
Schedule medications or treatments at times that do not interrupt nightÝme sleep.
Presence of a family member may help calm an agitated and confused patient.
Risk for injury: Avoid physical restraints: increase anxiety and agitation in confused patients; can result in
injuries. Increases impaired thinking.
DPOA: A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document that designates an individual
authorized to make health care decisions for a client who is unable.
The DPOA has the legal authority to make decisions pertaining to the client’s medical care. The
DPOA should be familiar with the client’s wishes.
Immobility
Immobility: Restriction imposed on all or part of the body, Physical factors, such as joint disease,
paralysis, or pain; psychological factors, such as depression or fear,
Therapy: Pain relief; prevent further injury of a part, as in a fractured bone, Reduced workload of the
heart in a cardiac condition, Healing and repair, To reverse the effects of gravity, as in abdominal hernias
and prolapsed organs.
Psychosocial changes can impair mobility, Depression, Dementia, Bereavement, Lack of
motivation, Fear of falling, Isolation, Loss of friends.
Pressure Ulcers: Identifying the risk of patient developing pressure ulcer is the first step in treatment.
