Eat. Walk. Engage.
This simple but effective three-step program has been introduced at West Moreton Health to help prevent delirium and improve recovery outcomes for patients over 65.
Clinical nurse Sharon Marsden and physiotherapist Michelle Newton are the West Moreton Health facilitators of a state-wide delirium prevention program to support older inpatients to mobilise regularly, eat and drink adequately, and keep their mind active during their hospital stay.
The Eat Walk Engage program is being implemented in two Ipswich Hospital wards – orthopaedic surgical (5F) and acute medical (7B) – to reduce hospital associated complications, including delirium.
“Delirium is a serious and common complication of acute illness and hospitalisation that is experienced by an estimated one in three hospital inpatients aged over 65,” Ms Marsden said.
“Someone experiencing delirium is in an acute confused state and it is not to be dismissed simply as part of aging. They have an increased risk of falls, complications and longer hospital stays. They are also more likely to leave hospital with increased care needs, require residential aged care, and are at increased risk of having dementia or dying.”
Ms Newton said the program, which has first introduced at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, showed that supporting patients to address the three ‘Eat Walk Engage’ focus areas led to a prevention and reduction in hospital associated complications.
“When a patient enters hospital, they might find they spend longer in bed, doing less things for themselves, than they would at home, and this reduced activity has greater long-term consequences for older people,” Ms Newton said.
“Our ward staff are very deliberately supporting patients to mobilise regularly, which might mean going out for a walk when visitors arrive, rather than staying in their room; eating and drinking well; and engaging in meaningful, social and cognitive activities like reading or maintaining connections with friends and family.’’
Signs of delirium:
- altered sleep routines
- restlessness
- agitation
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- reduced independence (e.g. toileting, walking, eating)