An Atypical Presentation of Illness in Older Adults

Symptoms of Hypoactive Delirium: The person “isn’t right” – a sudden change in thinking/ mental status, tired (lethargic), staying in bed --May or may not have a fever --Change in baseline vital signs (heart rate, weight loss, change in appetite) Constipation --Underlying Infection Symptoms of Hyperactive Delirium: Behaviors are trying to get out of bed, fighting, fluctuating mental status (CAM) --WILD: Doesn’t stand for the behavior --Water depletion (dehydration) --Infection --Labs, abnormal (hyponatremia, WBCs) --Drugs (new medications, toxicity, adverse effects) Other common presentations in older adults those are different than younger adults.

Author(s): Jamie Smith

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