Editing Medical-Surgical Nursing (section)

== Older Adult Considerations ==

Aging changes alter presentation. Reduced thirst sensation and lower total body water raise dehydration risk. Reduced kidney and liver function prolong drug effects and raise toxicity risk, so start low and go slow. Reduced baroreceptor sensitivity increases orthostatic hypotension and falls. Blunted febrile response means a normal temperature does not rule out infection, and new confusion, functional decline, incontinence, or falling may be the only signs of an acute illness.

Delirium is acute, fluctuating, and reversible, and it is a symptom of an underlying problem such as infection, hypoxia, medication, pain, or electrolyte imbalance. Dementia is chronic and progressive. Treating new-onset confusion as expected aging is a serious and common error.