Dementia Special: Delirium, Alzheimer's, Dementia Care, and Supporting CaregiversPage 10 of 51

7. Conclusion

The goal of this course is to provide healthcare practitioners with an in-depth review of delirium. Delirium is a medical emergency, with many symptoms and many more causes. Delirium often results in distressing outcomes and a poor prognosis if not treated early in its course. Despite its prevalence in the community and within our healthcare system, its diagnosis and treatment needs often go unmet. Learning what delirium is; its causes and the risk factors that can precipitate or predispose a patient to the condition; a general understanding of the Confusion Assessment Method screening tool; how to tell the difference between delirium, dementia, and depression; and strategies to reduce the severity of or prevent delirium will improve outcomes and save lives.