Delirium, Prevention, and Improving Hospitals for Seniors—A Conversation with Dr. Sharon K. Inouye
- Dr. Warren Wong
- Dec 3, 2024
- 2 min read
For more than 30 years, Dr. Sharon K. Inouye has been at the forefront of identifying delirium and developing ways to prevent it. Dr. Inouye is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and the Milton and Shirley F. Levy Family Chair and Director of the Aging Brain Center at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Internal Medicine (read more here). Her work led to her creating the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), the most widely used method for the identification of delirium worldwide. In the video below, I discussed delirium in older patients with her. Through our discussion, you’ll learn that:
Delirium is an acute confusion that typically occurs due to illness, medication changes, or surgery;
Delirium is not dementia;
Delirium is common in older adults, especially in hospital settings and during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Family members often recognize delirium before medical staff because they notice changes in their loved one's behavior; and
Because medical professionals may miss delirium due to its fluctuating nature and brief patient interactions, Dr. Inouye emphasizes the importance of family members trusting their instincts and advocating for their loved ones if they suspect delirium.
After that discussion, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Inouye about the dangers of delirium, prevention at home, medication concerns, long-term outcomes, chronic delirium, and more. You can see our discussion below.
Outside of her work diagnosing and preventing delirium, Dr. Inouye also founded the widely replicated Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). I had the opportunity to speak with her about the difficulties senior patients face in the hospital and discussed her ongoing efforts to improve healthcare in hospitals for elder patients.
If you want to read more about delirium, read the attached document below. In it, I will guide you through the ten steps to reduce the risk of delirium in the hospital and the important things to remember.
Dr. Warren Wong
PS: I say it over and over again: There's no one more important than the caregiver in the daily life of a frail person.
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