A typical presentation of illness in older adults

Symptoms of Hypoactive Delirium: The person “isn’t right” – sudden change in thinking/ mental status,
tired (lethargic), staying bed

• May or may not have a fever
• Change in baseline vital signs (heart rate, weight loss, change in appetite)
• Constipation
• Underlying Infection
• Symptoms of Hyperactive Delirium: Behaviors are trying to get out of bed, fighting, fluctuating mental status (CAM)
• WILD: Doesn’t stand for the behavior #lol
• Water depletion (dehydration)
• Infection
• Labs, abnormal (hyponatremia, WBCs)
• Drugs (new medications, toxicity, adverse effects)
• Other common presentations in older adults those are different than younger adults.

Author(s): Jamie Smith

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