A typical presentation of illness in older adults
Abstract
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.