New hospital program helps prevent delirium in elderly patients
新醫院計畫協助預防老年病患譫妄症
For many elderly patients, a hospital stay can feel overwhelming, sometimes leading to a sudden, confusing state known as delirium.
對於許多高齡病患而言，住院可能會感到不知所措，有時會導致一種突然且混亂的狀態，稱為譫妄。
It is important to know that delirium is not an inevitable part of aging.
重要的是，要知道譫妄並非老化不可避免的一部分，它是一種醫療併發症，通常可以透過主動且友善的長者照護來預防。
Hospitals are now adopting the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), which focuses on non-pharmacological methods to keep patients sharp and oriented.
跨領域團隊不再依賴藥物，而是採取簡單卻有效的策略，包括透過時鐘與熟悉的物品協助病患辨識方向、利用眼鏡或助聽器優化感官健康、促進更好的睡眠衛生，以及鼓勵儘早活動。
Instead of relying on medication, interdisciplinary teams use simple yet effective strategies.
透過納入家庭成員參與並審視用藥情況，這些計畫能處理導致混亂的根本環境與生理因素。
These include helping patients with orientation by using clocks and familiar objects, optimizing sensory health with glasses or hearing aids, promoting better sleep hygiene, and encouraging early movement.
研究顯示，這些結構化的方案能將譫妄發生率降低30%至40%。
Research shows that these structured approaches can reduce delirium rates by 30% to 40%.
By focusing on these human-centered interventions, healthcare providers are successfully transforming the hospital experience, ensuring that older adults return home with their cognitive function intact and their recovery journeys supported.
