It may seem like a simple thing – opening the blinds during the day and closing them at night.
But small actions like that could help prevent patients in hospital from becoming delirious.
It’s a common experience for patients in hospital – suddenly becoming confused, agitated or disoriented. "It’s something that can happen all of a sudden, and it is something that can wax and wane," said Dr. Sara La Hue, assistant professor of Clinical Neurology at UCSF.
Hue has been leading a study looking whether delirium can be prevented with small tweaks.
"Even just turning the lights on during the day, having the window blinds open, having activities for people who are in the hospital, getting them out of bed, having them walk around, interact with staff," LaHue told KCBS Radio’s "As Prescribed" on Thursday. "Things that can promote wakefulness and just activity during the day."
They can also promote sleep at night.
In the study of 20,000 UCSF patients, they found it did make a difference.
"Those who experienced this intervention, they actually were in the hospital for a lot less long(er) than those without it, and they also were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days," LaHue added.
More than 2.5 million Americans are impacted by delirium.
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