Delirium in the hospitalized elderly: nursing assessment and management.

Delirium is a serious health problem with significant negative consequences which is experienced by many hospitalized elderly patients. Because of its clinical impact and potential reversibility, prompt treatment of delirium is essential. Therefore an understanding of delirium, its manifestations, methods of detection, prevention, and treatment in hospitalized elderly patients is needed. This article provides an overview of the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas of delirium.