Using S.E.A.T.S. to help with delirium

Transcription

1 Using S.E.A.T.S. to help with delirium UHN Information for families, friends and caregivers of patients who experience delirium Read this information to learn more about: what delirium is what S.E.A.T.S. is and how it can help with delirium who to talk to if you have any questions Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: University Health Network. All rights reserved. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. Developed by the Department of Spiritual Care Authors: Maureen Anderson, Suraj George, Sharon Konyen and Kanae Kinoshita Created: 12/2016 Form: D-8662

2 What is delirium? Delirium is a condition that causes a person to become confused. It s a physical problem (a change in the body) that can cause a temporary change in their thinking. Delirium usually starts over a few days and often gets better with treatment. Delirium can happen to anyone, but it is common for patients in hospital. Delirium can affect patients in different ways. It can cause patients to act out, believe they are being harmed or are in danger or cause them to be very quiet or sleepy. Please talk to a member of your health care team for more information. Ask for the Delirium brochure to read more details about delirium. Why is it important to talk about delirium? Delirium can be very upsetting to patients and slow down their healing. It can also be very upsetting to family members and friends who are caring for patients with delirium. Delirium is common among patients who are admitted to hospital About 20 patients out of 100 admitted to hospital will experience delirium About 70 patients out of 100 admitted to the intensive care unit will experience delirium Learning how you can help support the patient and yourselves through delirium can make it less scary. 2

3 What is S.E.A.T.S.? S.E.A.T.S. stands for a list of things to think about or notice when a patient has delirium. Using S.E.A.T.S. can help you know: how delirium is affecting the patient and you what to do that could help what to talk to the health care team about ways everyone can help stop or slow delirium What does each letter mean? S stands for Self-Scan Self-scan means to do a check of how everyone is feeling each day. Thinking about this can help you decide whether something needs to be done to help everyone cope. It may help to use the scales below. Circle the number that shows how everyone is feeling. 3

4 How is the patient feeling today? Feeling OK Feeling very upset How are you or other family members or friends feeling today? Feeling OK Feeling very upset E stands for Environmental Observations This means to notice what is going on around you. This can help you decide if making some changes could help. For example: Is it too noisy? Can your loved one reach their glasses and meal trays? Would playing some favourite music help to calm everyone? Are there familiar things in the room such as pictures? Do you notice anything that could be upsetting? 4

5 Write down any things you notice, so you remember to tell your health care team. A stands for Any Background Information Is there any information you can share about someone s background that may affect how they feel? For example, has the patient or have you experienced: a big life change? a very bad or scary event? the loss of a loved one recently? Sometimes, there are activities or hobbies that might help the person to cope. Write down any information that would be helpful for your health care team to know. 5

6 T stands for Tracking Patterns This means noticing if there are things that make the delirium better or worse. For example, ask yourself: Is this the first time the patient has had delirium? Is there anything you think may be causing the delirium? Does it get better or worse at certain times or after certain activities? Write down any patterns you notice. S stands for Self Awareness Each person that suffers from or cares for someone who suffers from delirium is affected. Think about what this experience has been like and what feelings you have. Write down some of your thoughts and experiences. There are many things that family and friends can do to prevent delirium or help someone who has delirium. Using S.E.A.T.S. can help reduce the time a patient experiences delirium. It can also reduce stress and help everyone cope with seeing a loved one with delirium. 6

7 Who can I talk to if I have questions or concerns? Please talk to any member of the health care team. They are here to support you, answer any questions you have. You can also speak with a member of the Spiritual Care team. Where to find more information about delirium: The UHN Patient and Family Libraries at each hospital Ask a Librarian about books and articles on delirium or go to Mayo Clinic Website: and search delirium Medline Plus Website: On Youtube How to Recognize Delirium Watch online: Or, go to and search How to Recognize Delirium 7