Delirium Prevention in Older Hospitalized Patients

Abstract This chapter appraises the Elder Life Program (ELP), a multicomponent intervention designed to prevent delirium in hospitalized older patients. The study recruited 852 patients at risk for delirium at Yale–New Haven Hospital and compared those who receive the ELP to a usual care group. The ELP comprises interventions for cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, immobility, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and dehydration. Results show that the intervention significantly reduces the incidence of delirium in patients at intermediate risk, although it does not affect the severity or recurrence of delirium. Finally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of preventing delirium through early screening and intervention, asserting that these strategies are more effective than managing delirium once it occurs.