Recommended Additions to the New APA Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Delirium

The updated APA guideline for prevention and treatment of delirium is consistent with previous research but does not specify assessment prior to hospital discharge as a standardized protocol. The frequency of delirium in hospitalized older adults and the risks associated with discharging patients with unassessed delirium indicate the necessity for a standardized pre-hospital discharge delirium assessment protocol, especially with older adults. Recommendations are made for standardized implementation of the updated guideline, including the use of specific instruments for quickly assessing delirium prior to hospital discharge.