Change in Mental status is a general description for any alteration in a person’s ability to think clearly. This may be a decrease in alertness, an increase in confusion or other change such as increased suspicion of people around the person with the change. This should usually be evaluated in the ER so that the cause can be identified and treated as quickly as possible in order for the person to have the best outcome possible.
There are many reasons for a change in mental status for our aging family members and friends. The most concerning would be stroke and the easiest to treat would be a urinary tract infection (UTI). Any infection could be a cause of confusion in an elderly person but for some reason UTI’s do get missed for several days if the proper tests are not completed quickly. This will happen in the ER because the lab is in the same building while results may take a couple of days in the doctor’s office.
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