Confusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you usually do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembering, and making decisions. Confusion can be temporary or long-term and progressive.
Tips & Links
- Be aware that a sudden onset of confusion can be caused by medication side effects, infections (especially urinary tract infections), dehydration, metabolic problems, surgery, or changes in your environment (like being in a hospital).
- Chronic or ongoing confusion can be related to long-term changes in your brain like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more about confusion and memory loss from Healthlink BC.
- Check out Healthlink BC to find strategies used by other seniors who are focusing on ways to age well by staying socially active, engaging in regular physical exercise, and maintaining a calm and organized environment.
- If you are concerned about your confusion, ask your physician or nurse practitioner for a cognitive assessment. There are different types of cognitive tests that involve answering a series of questions and/or performing simple tasks. They are designed to help measure mental functions, such as memory, language, and the ability to recognize objects.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
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