Table 3.

Multicomponent, nonpharmacologic approaches for delirium prevention. Adapted from Oh et al. 2017.⁴⁷

Approach	Description
Feeding assistance	Follow general nutrition guidelines throughout the day. Ensure proper fit of dentures if applicable. Promote eating with others if possible.
Fluid repletion	Ensure plenty of fluids are taken throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Seek advice regarding fluid balance for patients with comorbidities such as heart failure and renal disease.
Vision and hearing	Ensure hearing aids and glasses are available if needed.
Sleep enhancement	Use techniques to promote relaxation and sufficient sleep such as avoiding medical/nursing procedures during sleep, scheduling medications to avoid disturbed sleep, and reducing noise at night.
Early mobilization	Promote early postoperative mobilization, and encourage regular ambulation. Keep walking aides nearby (such as canes or walkers). Encourage patient activity and range-of-motion exercises.
Infection prevention	Look for and treat infections. Avoid unnecessary catheterization. Implement infection-control procedures.
Pain management	Assess for pain, especially inpatients with communication difficulties. Monitor pain management in those with known or suspected pain.
Hypoxia protocol	Assess for hypoxia and oxygen saturation.
Cognitive stimulation	Stimulate the mind by promoting daily socialization from family and friends, reading, listening to music, engaging in challenging activities/games. Providing calendars, signs, and clocks that help orient patients to the time, day, month, and year.
Psychoactive medication protocol	Review medication lists for both types and number of medications.