What should I know and do about confusion?

ACS Answer

When the thought process is disturbed, or when a person has trouble thinking and acting appropriately, he or she may be confused. Usually the confusion is reversible. People can become confused for a number of reasons, including:

• Low blood sugar
• High fever
• Tumor spread into the brain or fluid surrounding the brain
• Lack of oxygen to the brain
• Too much calcium in the blood
• Too much narcotic medication
• A lot of pain

Confusion can occur or become worse when the patient goes to a new environment. Confusion may get worse at night.

It is helpful for confused patients to have familiar people around them. If a person suddenly becomes confused, call the doctor immediately. This information will help family members help a patient who is confused.

What to do

• Touch the patient and look at the patient when talking to him or her.
• Stay within a few feet of the patient during conversation.
• Always tell the patient who you are.
• Turn off the radio or TV while you are talking.
• Talk slowly and use short statements.
• Tell the patient the day, time, and where he/she is.
• Keep a calendar and clock within the patient's view.
• Tell the patient when you will be doing something (such as changing the bed, dressing, bathing) and explain each step as you go along.
• Play soft, soothing music when the patient is alone.
• Keep the room well lit.
• Label commonly used items with pictures. For example, put a picture of a toilet on the bathroom door and a picture of a flame over the stove.
• Protect the patient from injury.
• Use side rails if the patient will get out of bed and not know where he or she is.
• Help the patient with washing, going to the bathroom, and other daily activities that may be hard for him or her to do alone.
• Check to see what the patient eats. (He or she may forget to eat, or may not be able to eat.)
• Check the medicines that the patient takes.

Do not

• Speak too quickly
• Give medicines, a bath, or do anything to the patient without explaining what you are doing
• Leave the patient alone for periods of time
• Play the radio and television together or loudly
• Leave medicines where the patient can reach them

Call the doctor

• If the patient becomes confused very suddenly, or if confusion worsens
• If the patient becomes violent
• If the patient hurts himself or herself in some way

Related Resources

Find books that cover this and other cancer topics at the American Cancer Society bookstore.

Recommended Consultation

You should consider discussing this topic with your doctor or health care team.

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