Stay alert
It takes some time for persons with delirium to recover even after the underlying cause(s) are treated. Ongoing vigilance by family members and prompt medical attention are important in preventing poor health-related outcomes. If your loved one is in a care home or a hospital and if you notice a sudden change in presentation, it is useful to alert the staff.
Create a sense of familiarity
To reduce confusion, caregivers can remind patients of the time, day and place. It is important to speak and provide instructions in a clear, calm voice with a slower cadence, as the ability to understand what we are saying can be difficult and confusing for patients with delirium. Visual or hearing impairment can worsen the confusion; it is therefore necessary to ensure patients put on their own glasses or hearing aids.
In addition, placing their personal belongings near the bedside helps to simulate a familiar home environment, and visits from family members give patients the opportunity to see familiar faces. These measures will help with their recovery.
The importance of caregiver and communal support
Patients with delirium may display agitated or disruptive behaviour, with a potential risk of harm to themselves or others. It is useful for caregivers to remember that these behaviours are due to the presence of delirium. Patients may also be at risk of falling or wandering off. To reduce these risks, it is important to provide appropriate assistance when the patient attempts to walk or gets out of bed. Additionally, having a familiar or trusted family member accompany the patient at his/her bedside or at home can promote safety and provide additional reassurance to them. The support of family members or caregivers’— working in partnership with the healthcare professionals — is vital in meeting the short- and long-term care needs of a patient with delirium.
无论是在医院还是在家里，家人与看护者都可以采取许多实用贴士为康复中的亲人提供援助。
保持警惕
即使诱发谵妄症的病因被治愈，患者也需要一段时间才能完全康复。家人应该继续保持警惕，并在出现异常时及时就医，这对预防不良健康后果至关重要。对于住在疗养院或医院的亲人，如果您发现其言行突然发生了变化，应当即刻告知工作人员。
营造熟悉的环境
为了缓解患者的混乱状态，看护者可以提醒他们当前的时间、日期以及所处的地点。因为谵妄症患者可能在理解我们所要表达的内容上会有困难，所以家人和看护者以清晰、平静的声音慢慢地说话和给予指示是很重要的。再者，视觉或听觉障碍可能会让患者更加混乱，因此应确保他们佩戴自己的眼镜或助听器。此外，将患者的个人物品放在床边有助于模拟熟悉的家庭环境，并且家人的探访能让患者有机会看到熟悉的面孔，这有助于他们谵妄症的康复。
重视看护者和社区支持的重要性
谵妄症患者可能会表现出激动或破坏性行为，从而伤害自己或他人。请记住，此行为是因为谵妄症的存在。患者也可能面临跌倒或走失的风险。为了降低此风险，在他们试图步行或下床时提供适当的帮助是很重要的。此外，安排一名熟悉或信任的家人陪在患者身边能让他们更加安心。为了满足谵妄症患者的短期和长期需求，家人或看护者以及医疗专业人员的支持至关重要。
Ms Li Fuyin, Senior Nurse Clinician (Advanced Practice Nurse), Changi General Hospital 李符寅, 樟宜综合医院资深临床护士长(高级临床护理师)
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