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Purpose: Despite the importance of measuring delirium severity in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), no validated instrument currently exists. Our goal was to generate items for use in such an instrument. Method: An interdisciplinary expert panel developed items to assess seven domains and 21 subdomains of delirium severity. Nursing experts provided input on items. Results: Experts achieved consensus on 21 items, including best respondents for each item, and appropriate look-back periods. Nursing experts emphasized the need for educating nursing staff and obtaining information from caregivers. Conclusion: Careful, nuanced identification of distinguishing features is key for generating items for measuring delirium severity in persons with ADRD. Once developed, engaging nurses will be essential to facilitate adoption and relevance of the tool. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(9), 24–30.], Delirium and dementia are common, distressing causes of cognitive impairment worldwide, which frequently occur together. Delirium is an acute disturbance in attention and awareness that represents a change from baseline [...]

The current study examined the association of patient factors, patient/caregiver relationships, and living arrangements with caregiver burden due to delirium. The sample included a subset (N = 207) of hospitalized medical and surgical patients (aged >70 years) enrolled in the Better Assessment of Illness Study and their care-givers. The majority of caregivers were female (57%) and married (43%), and 47% reported living with the patient. Delirium occurred in 22% of the sample, and delirium severity, pre-existing cognitive impairment, and impairment of any activities of daily living (ADL) were associated with higher caregiver burden. However, only the ADL impairment of needing assistance with transfers was independently significantly associated with higher burden (p < 0.01). Child, child-in-law, and other relatives living with or apart from the patient reported significantly higher caregiver burden compared to spouse/partners (p < 0.01), indicating caregiver relationship and living arrangement are associated with burden. Future studies should examine additional factors contributing to delirium burden. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(9), 32–39.], Delirium, characterized as an acute impairment of attention and cognition, is the most common neurobehavioral syndrome in the acute care setting, especially in seriously ill older adults (Maldonado, 2017). Delirium [...]