Last week was World Delirium Awareness Day (16 March), bringing an opportunity to acknowledge the multi-disciplinary approach to prevent and promote delirium recovery.
Supporting vulnerable patients who are at risk of developing delirium is the focus of Mackay Base Hospital’s Eat Walk Engage (EWE) Program team.
Delirium (an acute confusional state) and functional decline (an increase in need for assistance with mobility and/or activities of daily living) are potentially common complications in older hospitalised patients or those with pre-existing cognitive impairment.
Eat Walk Engage (EWE) is a statewide program developed by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital that helps patients by providing optimal nutrition and hydration (Eat), early and regular mobility (Walk) and meaningful cognitive and social activities (Engage) to prevent delirium and promote recovery in acute care wards.
Mackay Base Hospital EWE facilitators Megan Chapman and Caitlan Golder are supported by a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals including allied health and nursing.
“Delirium is very distressing for patients and their families. The symptoms are associated with poor outcomes including longer hospital stays, potential for admission to aged care facilities, and may heighten future dementia risk,” Megan said.
“The EWE program aims to further support our at-risk patients to mobilise early and regularly, to eat and drink adequately, and to keep their minds’ active through meaningful cognitive activities.”
Individual and group activities suitable to engage patients to reduce the risk of delirium have been developed by the team designed to align with interests and capability.
“Individual activities include activity packs with books, colouring pencils, decks of cards and magazines, kindly provided by the Mackay Hospital Foundation. While group activities comprising of bingo, painting, colouring, craft and occasionally tai chi are being facilitated for patients,” she said.
“Biographical tools which are essentially a snap shot of a patient’s interests are placed next to or above a patient’s bed. These may include a list of hobbies, their pet’s name or places they like visit to assist with topics of conversation.
“We also encourage families or carers to bring in familiar items such as clothing and photos or personal items they prefer.”
The EWE program is being implemented on Mackay Base Hospital’s G2 and F2 wards and focuses on patient activities as well as education, training and space redesign.
Article courtesy of Mackay Hospital and Health Service
Mackay Base Hospital EWE facilitators Megan Chapman and Caitlan Golder. Image supplied MHHS
