Abstract
Background: Delirium, an acute state of fluctuating inattention and cognitive impairment, is prevalent among hospitalized older adults and associated with longer hospital stays, increased mortality, and significant healthcare costs. The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) was developed to reduce delirium through interventions addressing common risk factors. Although HELP has proven effective, many hospitals face challenges in implementing the program, leading to modified versions. This review examines recent studies using modified HELP to assess their impact on delirium prevention.
Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify studies from the last ten years that implemented modified HELP programs. Relevant studies were selected from the American Geriatrics Society CoCareâ: HELP resource list and databases including PubMed, EBSCOhost, and the Cochrane Library. Data were qualitatively analyzed to assess outcomes, intervention adaptations, and implementation variability.
Results: Five studies, conducted in diverse healthcare systems outside the United States, were reviewed. In all studies, caregivers or staff performed interventions in place of volunteers, and the programs varied significantly in intervention adaptations. Three studies demonstrated statistically significant reductions in delirium incidence. A fourth study showed a reduction in delirium, though this result was not statistically significant. The fifth study established the feasibility of implementing a modified program, but its sample size was too small to determine statistical significance.
Conclusion: This review highlights the flexibility and potential of modified HELP programs in reducing delirium and its consequences across diverse healthcare settings. However, significant variability in adaptations limit direct comparisons to the traditional HELP model. To enhance program consistency and efficacy, further work is needed to establish and standardize guidelines for modifications. These insights underscore HELP’s adaptability while suggesting that a more unified approach could facilitate wider adoption and improve patient outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Okray, Ashley
(2026)
"The Impact of a Modified Hospital Elder Life Program on Delirium,"
SIU Journal of Medical Science Scholarly Works: Vol. 3:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/jmssw/vol3/iss1/7