Age-Friendly Approaches to Managing Mentation, A Delirium Case Review

Delirium is common among older adults in post-acute care and often goes unrecognized, particularly when presenting with hypoactive or mixed features. This case example describes an 85-year-old man admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility after hip fracture repair who developed acute confusion, inattention, fluctuating consciousness, and functional decline five days into his stay. Guided by the Age-Friendly 4Ms framework, the interdisciplinary team addressed underlying causes. Within one week, the patient demonstrated substantial improvement. This case highlights the critical role of early recognition, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions in managing delirium, emphasizing how the 4Ms of Age-Friendly care can optimize recovery and support a return to baseline function in older adults.