Did you know that postoperative delirium and risk of death are closely connected? Most of us working in senior living communities already understand the dangers of delirium—confusion, falls, dehydration, and more. But a recent study published in JAMA Network Open shows that delirium after surgery is linked to a threefold increase in the risk of death. That’s a startling reminder of how important it is to spot and respond to delirium fast.

Delirium is often reversible, but that doesn’t make it harmless. It’s an acute condition caused by changes in the brain, and surgery is one of the top triggers. Thankfully, experts no longer consider it benign or temporary. In fact, the American Geriatrics Society described delirium as “acute brain failure”—a medical emergency, similar to acute heart failure, that requires immediate action. Their best practice statement makes it clear: this is not something to wait and watch.

According to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, the new study also found that rates of postoperative delirium vary widely between hospitals, even among similar surgical populations. Risk factors include advanced age, poor functional status, malnutrition, kidney disease, and undergoing emergency (rather than elective) procedures. If that sounds like your resident population, you’re not wrong!

Of course, you can’t change someone’s age—but you can work to strengthen function, support kidney health, and improve nutrition. And above all, you can help prevent those falls that lead to emergency surgeries in the first place. That’s where purposeful rounding comes in. Make sure residents have clean eyeglasses, working hearing aids with fresh batteries, pain management in place, well-fitted footwear, and a toileting plan that meets their individual needs. These may seem like small details, but they make a big difference when it comes to reducing delirium triggers.

Every resident is unique. That’s why individualized, resident-centered care matters more than ever—especially when facing something as serious as postoperative delirium and risk of death. Let’s keep doing the work that helps residents stay steady, strong, and supported—every single day.

Stay well and stay informed!