Dementia and Delirium in the Acute Hospital

A patient with dementia is suddenly quieter than usual. Another becomes restless, frightened, or determined to leave the ward. A third is described simply as “confused.” What has changed, what might be causing it, and what should the nurse do next? Dementia and Delirium in the Acute Hospital is a practical handbook for nurses caring for cognitively impaired older adults on busy general wards. Using realistic clinical situations and clear bedside frameworks, it covers delirium recognition, the 4AT, dementia and delirium differentiation, prevention, communication, distress, therapeutic observation, capacity, safeguarding, family partnership, handover, and discharge. At its centre is one practical discipline: Know the baseline. Notice the change. Assess. Act. Escalate. Review. For ward nurses, nursing students, newly qualified nurses, and bank or agency staff, this handbook turns a difficult area of acute care into a clearer and more structured nursing response.