Chapter 7: The Elderly Person who is Confused
Overview:
- Explains organic brain disorders
- Describes the causes of Acute Confusional State and Dementia and their clinical features
- Explains how to plan caring interventions for the person with dementia and how to care for them
- Describes how to care for the carers
- Outlines care venue options
Description:
This chapter instructs readers on how to understand key characteristics of delirium as an acute episode and dementia as a chronic condition; recognise the different features of delirium, depression and dementia in elderly citizens; explain the incidence, characteristics and principles of management of people affected with dementia; and to use practical approaches in the care and management of people who are diagnosed with organic brain disorders.
Topics:
- Learning objectives
- Chapter references
- Introduction
- Organic Brain Disorders (OBD)
- Causes of Acute Confusional State (ACS)
- Causes of dementia
- Clinical features
- Learning activity 7.1 — Maggie — A case of confusion
- Learning activity 7.2 — Your psychosocial and mental health assessment of Mr Alex Elmtree
- Caring interventions for the person with delirium
- Caring interventions for the person with dementia
- Learning activity 7.3a — Negative approaches to people with dementia
- Learning activity 7.3b — Positive approaches to people with dementia
- Caring for the carers
- Learning activity 7.4 — Carer supports
- Care venue options
- Conclusion
- Chapter summary
Speaker / Author:
Bernadette Keane
Bernadette is a highly experienced nurse educator who lectured for nine years in the psychiatric nursing programs conducted at Royal Park Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to psychiatry her clinical background and qualifications include medical, surgical, midwifery and infant welfare areas of care. In 1982, as a Kellogg Nursing Fellow, she studied at the University of California, San Francisco. Since then she has published journal articles and textbook chapters on health care and professional issues. In 1986 Bernadette launched her private practice, called Continuing Education Consultation, and from 1992 to 1998 she was president of the association called Nurses in Independent Practice. In 1992, together with Rhonda Goodwin and Jennifer Richmond, Bernadette published a nursing history book entitled Mum and Me and T.L.C.
Carolyn Dixon
Carolyn was, from 1995 to early 1999, the psychiatric clinical nurse consultant in the emergency department of St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Her work there began as a project to study the effectiveness of this innovative role. Carolyn is a trained psychiatric and general nurse who has worked in hospital, education and community settings both in Australia and overseas. It was while she was working as a nurse teacher at Royal Park Hospital in Melbourne that she first worked with Bernadette Keane. Carolyn has presented a number of conference papers on aspects of psychiatric care. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Social Science), a Graduate Diploma in Health Education and a Master of Nursing.
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