In this Fifth episode, we discuss the importance of communicatng about delirium well with the families of patients affected by it. It’s a worrying sight for families to witness their loved ones becoming acutely confused due to the causes we’ve mentioned in previous episodes, and it takes a structured, compassionate approach to explain to family members why a delirium might have come about and what we can try and do as a team to minimise its impact.
We offer tips in this episode for how to place ourselves in the shoes of family members, and use our interactions with them to gain information about patients as well as offering calm reassurance when they might be concerned about the effect an acute delirium is having on their loved ones.
This is a crucial aspect of delirium management in the hospital setting, and an area that must not be pushed to the side. If our communication is not caring, dignified and constructive, relationships can break down, and this is something we must look to avoid. We want our patients to receive the best possible holistic care, and we want to help walk their families through the often unsettling journey of an inpatient stay one small step at a time.
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We look forward to sharing with you once again in our next (and final) episode when we will be taking a look at what happens when a patient with delirium is ready to leave the acute hospital setting, and what factors need considered when planning their discharge. See you then!
What is The Pinch Me Pod - an MDT approach to delirium in hospital settings?
The Pinch Me Pod – an MDT approach to delirium in hospital settings
This is the ‘Pinch Me Pod’, a podcast resource from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, to help explore the topic of delirium in detail, and what the multidisciplinary team can do to recognise and manage delirium in the hospital setting.
Dr Stephen Collins, Doctor in Elderly Care Medicine, hosts this podcast series, alongside a panel of staff from across the acute hospitals in Antrim and Causeway, in Northern Ireland. Over the course of six episodes, we explore what delirium looks like for us in our own day-to-day work and the significant impact this condition has on patients, families and staff. As well as the lessons we have learned, we also discuss lots of tips on how you might be able to improve the level of care you provide to patients with delirium in your own work setting. We hope that this podcast will begin to answer some of the questions you may have and help you navigate the medical minefield that delirium can sometimes feel like.
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