Delirium in the Hospital: What Families Need to Know

Sudden confusion in an older adult who is hospitalized is not just "part of aging." It is often delirium, a preventable medical emergency. Roxanne Weiss, MD, is a hospitalist, geriatrician, and medical director of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at University of Utah Health. She explains the difference between delirium and dementia, why families are often the first to notice it, and what simple steps can help prevent it.