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 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
Explain delirium in accessible terms: "The brain isn't processing information normally right now."
This helps families understand why repeating basics about what is going on, as well as being reassuring over and over again, can help the person experiencing #delirium.
This helps families understand why repeating basics about what is going on, as well as being reassuring over and over again, can help the person experiencing #delirium.
October 28, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Explain delirium in accessible terms: "The brain isn't processing information normally right now."
This helps families understand why repeating basics about what is going on, as well as being reassuring over and over again, can help the person experiencing #delirium.
This helps families understand why repeating basics about what is going on, as well as being reassuring over and over again, can help the person experiencing #delirium.
"Family caregivers are essential partners in the care of people with dementia, and their needs must be recognized and addressed by the healthcare system."
— The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
— The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
October 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"Family caregivers are essential partners in the care of people with dementia, and their needs must be recognized and addressed by the healthcare system."
— The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
— The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
"In the deepest slumber—no! In #delirium—no! In a swoon—no! In death—no! even in the grave all is not lost. Else there is no immortality for man."
The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe
October 25, 2025 at 11:04 AM
"In the deepest slumber—no! In #delirium—no! In a swoon—no! In death—no! even in the grave all is not lost. Else there is no immortality for man."
The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe
“My brain was the enemy; it told me the nurses were killers.”
— Delirium survivor
Psychological care of delirium starts with reality anchoring: “You’re safe, you’re in hospital, I’m your nurse.”
— Delirium survivor
Psychological care of delirium starts with reality anchoring: “You’re safe, you’re in hospital, I’m your nurse.”
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
“My brain was the enemy; it told me the nurses were killers.”
— Delirium survivor
Psychological care of delirium starts with reality anchoring: “You’re safe, you’re in hospital, I’m your nurse.”
— Delirium survivor
Psychological care of delirium starts with reality anchoring: “You’re safe, you’re in hospital, I’m your nurse.”
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.
October 23, 2025 at 6:49 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.
October 22, 2025 at 7:06 AM
All these informal terms - avoiding saying "delirium" - makes care FAR less effective.
Use #DELIRIUM.
Use #DELIRIUM.
October 21, 2025 at 6:58 AM
All these informal terms - avoiding saying "delirium" - makes care FAR less effective.
Use #DELIRIUM.
Use #DELIRIUM.
"Up to 40% of antipsychotic use in long-term care may be inappropriate, leading to an increased risk of falls, fractures, and death."
— Healthcare Excellence Canada
— Healthcare Excellence Canada
October 18, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"Up to 40% of antipsychotic use in long-term care may be inappropriate, leading to an increased risk of falls, fractures, and death."
— Healthcare Excellence Canada
— Healthcare Excellence Canada
A feeling of loneliness or isolation is commonly reported in people experiencing #delirium.
Don't leave them feeling like this. Speak kindly, explain what is happening, involve family.
Don't leave them feeling like this. Speak kindly, explain what is happening, involve family.
October 17, 2025 at 6:53 AM
A feeling of loneliness or isolation is commonly reported in people experiencing #delirium.
Don't leave them feeling like this. Speak kindly, explain what is happening, involve family.
Don't leave them feeling like this. Speak kindly, explain what is happening, involve family.