Coping and support

If you're a relative or caregiver of someone at risk of or recovering from delirium, you can take steps to help improve the person's health, prevent a recurrence and manage responsibilities.

Promote good sleep habits

To promote good sleep habits:

• Provide a calm, quiet environment
• Keep inside lighting appropriate for the time of day
• Plan for uninterrupted periods of sleep at night
• Help the person keep a regular daytime schedule
• Encourage self-care and activity during the day

Promote calmness and orientation

To help the person remain calm and well-oriented:

• Provide a clock and calendar and refer to them regularly throughout the day
• Communicate simply about any change in activity, such as time for lunch or time for bed
• Keep familiar and favorite objects and pictures around, but avoid a cluttered environment
• Approach the person calmly
• Identify yourself or other people regularly
• Avoid arguments
• Use comfort measures, such as reassuring touch, when appropriate
• Minimize noise levels and other distractions
• Provide and maintain eyeglasses and hearing aids

Prevent complicating problems

Help prevent medical problems by:

• Giving the person the proper medication on a regular schedule
• Providing plenty of fluids and a healthy diet
• Encouraging regular physical activity
• Getting prompt treatment for potential problems, such as infections or metabolic imbalances

Caring for the caregiver

Providing regular care for a person with delirium can be scary and exhausting. Take care of yourself, too.

• Consider joining a support group for caregivers.
• Learn more about the condition.
• Ask for educational materials or other resources from a health care provider, nonprofit organizations, community health services or government agencies.
• Share caregiving with family and friends who are familiar to the person so you get a break.

Examples of organizations that may provide helpful information include the Caregiver Action Network and the National Institute on Aging.