Alasdair MacLullich
@amaclullich.bsky.social
Physician & Professor of Geriatric Medicine @EdinburghUni.
Chair, Scottish Hip Fracture Audit.
Delirium, hip fracture.
Free chapter of new book: https://www.the4at.com/family-delirium-guide
Chair, Scottish Hip Fracture Audit.
Delirium, hip fracture.
Free chapter of new book: https://www.the4at.com/family-delirium-guide
Pinned
There's a real gap in public information on #delirium & I'm aiming to help address this with this book.
Get a pdf of Chapter 1 via this link:
www.the4at.com/family-delir...
#familycaregiver
Get a pdf of Chapter 1 via this link:
www.the4at.com/family-delir...
#familycaregiver
November 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Missed #delirium = longer stays, more complications, higher mortality, massive costs.
But hey, at least we saved 2 minutes by not doing a 4AT in the ED.
But hey, at least we saved 2 minutes by not doing a 4AT in the ED.
November 25, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Missed #delirium = longer stays, more complications, higher mortality, massive costs.
But hey, at least we saved 2 minutes by not doing a 4AT in the ED.
But hey, at least we saved 2 minutes by not doing a 4AT in the ED.
"The '4Ms' of an Age-Friendly Health System are What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. These are a set of evidence-based practices that can improve care for older adults."
— American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
— American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
November 22, 2025 at 9:17 PM
"The '4Ms' of an Age-Friendly Health System are What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. These are a set of evidence-based practices that can improve care for older adults."
— American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
— American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
“Reality itself fragmented into a #delirium of shifting images, as if a fever had seized our senses and the world had become an unreliable mirage.”
Philip K Dick, Ubik (1969)
Philip K Dick, Ubik (1969)
November 22, 2025 at 12:04 PM
“Reality itself fragmented into a #delirium of shifting images, as if a fever had seized our senses and the world had become an unreliable mirage.”
Philip K Dick, Ubik (1969)
Philip K Dick, Ubik (1969)
When speaking to person describing delusional beliefs, listen without interrupting or dismissing their experiences. Instead of immediately correcting them, say something calm and neutral like:
“That must be very frightening for you.”'
#delirium
“That must be very frightening for you.”'
#delirium
November 21, 2025 at 7:53 AM
When speaking to person describing delusional beliefs, listen without interrupting or dismissing their experiences. Instead of immediately correcting them, say something calm and neutral like:
“That must be very frightening for you.”'
#delirium
“That must be very frightening for you.”'
#delirium
Emergency Department (ED) staff: screen ALL patients over 65 for delirium.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Emergency Department (ED) staff: screen ALL patients over 65 for delirium.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
November 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Shocking reality: 1 in 4 older hospital patients develop #delirium, yet most families have never heard the word.
We need to do much better in improving public awareness of delirium.
We need to do much better in improving public awareness of delirium.
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Shocking reality: 1 in 4 older hospital patients develop #delirium, yet most families have never heard the word.
We need to do much better in improving public awareness of delirium.
We need to do much better in improving public awareness of delirium.
"There is a critical shortage of nurses with specialized training in gerontology, which impacts the quality of care that older adults receive."
— National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE)
— National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE)
November 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
"There is a critical shortage of nurses with specialized training in gerontology, which impacts the quality of care that older adults receive."
— National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE)
— National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE)
November 12, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Delirium has a visibility problem, not just a diagnostic one.
How many cases of delirium are you missing day to day by not looking proactively?
How many cases of delirium are you missing day to day by not looking proactively?
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Delirium has a visibility problem, not just a diagnostic one.
How many cases of delirium are you missing day to day by not looking proactively?
How many cases of delirium are you missing day to day by not looking proactively?
"Care partners of people with dementia often feel isolated. A dementia-friendly community provides a network of support for care partners, connecting them with resources and other people who understand their experience."
— Dementia Friendly America
— Dementia Friendly America
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
"Care partners of people with dementia often feel isolated. A dementia-friendly community provides a network of support for care partners, connecting them with resources and other people who understand their experience."
— Dementia Friendly America
— Dementia Friendly America
“Nobody used the word delirium. I thought I’d lost my mind.”
— Delirium survivor
➡️ Always provide clear information, including telling the patient they have delirium, during the episode. Then explain & de-brief afterwards.
— Delirium survivor
➡️ Always provide clear information, including telling the patient they have delirium, during the episode. Then explain & de-brief afterwards.
November 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
“Nobody used the word delirium. I thought I’d lost my mind.”
— Delirium survivor
➡️ Always provide clear information, including telling the patient they have delirium, during the episode. Then explain & de-brief afterwards.
— Delirium survivor
➡️ Always provide clear information, including telling the patient they have delirium, during the episode. Then explain & de-brief afterwards.
Emergency Department (ED) staff: screen ALL patients over 65 for delirium.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
November 6, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Emergency Department (ED) staff: screen ALL patients over 65 for delirium.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
Emergency departments are where it's most missed and most dangerous.
Make it as routine as checking blood pressure.
😞 Social isolation and loneliness in older people.
🇨🇦 From the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health.
#DementiaCare #MedTwitter
🇨🇦 From the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health.
#DementiaCare #MedTwitter
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 AM
😞 Social isolation and loneliness in older people.
🇨🇦 From the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health.
#DementiaCare #MedTwitter
🇨🇦 From the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health.
#DementiaCare #MedTwitter
Delirium develops over hours/days, dementia over months/years.
"Dad was fine yesterday, today he's a different person" = think delirium, not dementia progression.
"Dad was fine yesterday, today he's a different person" = think delirium, not dementia progression.
November 4, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Delirium develops over hours/days, dementia over months/years.
"Dad was fine yesterday, today he's a different person" = think delirium, not dementia progression.
"Dad was fine yesterday, today he's a different person" = think delirium, not dementia progression.
"Providing person-centered care is essential for improving the quality of life for people with dementia. This involves tailoring care to the individual's unique needs, preferences, and values."
— National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)
— National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)
November 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
"Providing person-centered care is essential for improving the quality of life for people with dementia. This involves tailoring care to the individual's unique needs, preferences, and values."
— National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)
— National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)
"He saw visions of his ancestors, they were calling him, he could not understand."
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
#delirium
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
#delirium
November 1, 2025 at 12:04 PM
"He saw visions of his ancestors, they were calling him, he could not understand."
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
#delirium
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
#delirium
October 31, 2025 at 7:53 AM
October 30, 2025 at 7:49 AM
October 29, 2025 at 8:06 AM