Delirium and Acute Problematic Behavior in the Long-Term Care Setting

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Source: American Medical Directors Association (AMDA). Delirium and acute problematic behavior in the long-term care setting. Columbia (MD): American Medical Directors Association (AMDA); 2008. 36 p. Delirium and Acute Problematic Behavior in the Long-Term Care Setting Recognition Identify the patient's current behavior, mood, cognition, and function. Identify and clarify problematic behavior and altered mental function. Assess the patient for individual risk factors for problematic behavior and delirium. Determine the urgency of the situation and the need for additional evaluation and testing. Assessment Identify the cause(s) of problematic behavior and altered mental function. Assess the patient for medical illnesses with or without delirium. Consider possible psychiatric illnesses. Consider dementia-related causes. Establish a working diagnosis and validate conclusions. Treatment Initiate care plan for treatment. Provide symptomatic and cause-specific management. Use medications appropriately to address problematic behavior. Monitoring Monitor and adjust interventions as indicated. Review the effectiveness and continued appropriateness of all medications. Prevent, identify, and address any complications of the conditions and the treatments. All copyrights are reserved by the American Medical Directors Association.