• ​​​​Speak clearly and use fewer words. Allow time to respond.
• Don’t argue with or correct them.
• Comfort them. They may be confused and frightened, so tell them you’re there to help and to keep them safe.
• Make sure they’re wearing their aids (like their glasses, hearing aids, or dentures)
• Keep the area around them calm and soothing.
• Use a clock to help them remember the time and a calendar or whiteboard to help them remember the date.
• Play their favourite music, as long as it’s quiet and light.
• Leave the radio or TV off, as the added voices and images may add to the confusion.

In the Hospital or Care Home

• Visit often, but keep the visits short. In the early days of a delirium, someone may be asked to stay with the person as much as possible. Take turns so no one gets too tired.
• Visit at mealtimes so you can help make sure they eat and drink enough. Check with the nursing staff if you want to bring in food.
• Bring in items the person knows and may find comforting.
• Bring in a book for family and friends to sign whenever they visit, including the date and time they visited. This may help the person remember their visitors.

At Home

• Offer light and nourishing meals. Make sure they drink enough fluids to keep their urine pale.
• Help them move around or get some light exercise.
• Make sure someone is with them at all times.
• Remove anything that could be a safety risk.