DEMENTIA AND DELIRIUM - THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Course overview

As health care providers, we are often called upon to differentiate between dementia and delirium. The significant challenge we face, however, is that dementia and delirium both ""present"" with strikingly similar changes in memory, reasoning and personality. Given that delirium is typically reversible (whereas dementia is chronic and progressive), and that approximately 30 percent of our residents with a diagnosis of dementia may be incorrectly diagnosed, it is essential that we learn to accurately differentiate between dementia and delirium. During this illuminating webinar, participants will learn to: Understand the similarities between dementia and delirium. Differentiate between dementia and delirium. Identify environmental, situational and human factor antecedents to delirium - factors which are typically reversible. Identify the importance of behavioral alternatives to pharmacological intervention in the care of both dementia and delirium.