17/01/2026
Delirium is a serious but often treatable condition that can happen suddenly to someone who is unwell. It’s much more common in older people, especially those with dementia.
It is a change in a person’s mental state that happens suddenly over 1-2 days. It’s often the first sign that someone is becoming unwell.
Delirium can look different from one person to the next. Some people may become agitated or distressed while others are drowsy or withdrawn. The common feature to everyone who has delirium is that they become less responsive or alert to things happening around them.
Delirium is not the same as dementia, but they can look similar to someone who doesn’t know the person well. Dementia can make a person much more likely to have delirium.
Read about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment here: http://spkl.io/6182AmkBy