Delirium Prevention Model of Care
As Daisy's story illustrates, delirium can have a significant impact on an older person's quality of life and is one of the most common complications for an older person when they are admitted to hospital. As delirium has long term negative effects, preventing delirium is an important factor for improving the care of older people.
Delirium and functional decline are not inevitable consequences of hospitalisation for older people as they are recognisable and preventable. The Recruitment of Volunteers to Improve Vitality in the Elderly (ReViVe) program at the Prince of Wales Hospital provides an opportunity to enhance the older person's journey. A pool of volunteers helps the ward staff to provide additional care to older patients. The interventions include volunteers providing patients with orientating information as to the 'here and now', practical assistance with mobility, meals and hydration, glasses and hearing aids and activities to maintain alertness and decrease boredom during hospitalisation.
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Daisy's story under Delirium Prevention |
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Daisy is 82 years old, potters in her garden and has an active social life. Janet her daughter visits every day. |
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Daisy is unwell, unable to concentrate and very agitated. Janet rings the GP, who visits and calls an ambulance to take Daisy to hospital. |
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The next day Daisy is still confused and has mostly refused breakfast. She calms when Janet talks to her. Janet feels stressed about how she will juggle the extra visiting Daisy needs. |
A young woman introduces herself as the ReViVe coordinator and says that the volunteers can help support Daisy in hospital. |
The ReViVe volunteers visit daily. They read the newspaper to Daisy, help with her meals and fluids and talk about the outside world. Daisy enjoys their visits enormously. |
Daisy is now able to walk around but is very weak from her bed rest. The ReViVe volunteers help Daisy to make short walks to strengthen her muscles and reduce the likelihood of falls. |
Daisy is completely recovered from her hospital stay. She is strong and well and able to look after herself at home. Janet continues to visit each day. |
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Implementing the Delirium Prevention Model of Care
Use these implementation guidelines, tools and hints to help you to make Delirium Prevention happen.
Download the Delirium Prevention Model of Care 
(1.54KB)
Contacts - to find out more about the Delirium Prevention - ReViVe
Salle-Ann Ehms
Aged Care Volunteer Coordinator
ReViVe Program
Email: salle_ann.ehms@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Literature - that validates the Delirium Prevention Model of Care
- View references and resources used to develop the Delirium Prevention Model of Care
