Lay summary
Delirium occurs commonly in older people admitted to hospital. It is distressing for patients and the whānau who care for them and often leads to cognitive decline. In Aotearoa we do not have optimal services to support patients with delirium and their whānau. I am planning to do a qualitative study to explore the experiences of older people who had delirium, their family caregivers and the health care professionals who care for them by conducting individual interviews. I will also use routinely collected health data to determine the prevalence of screen positive delirium, and the predictors of recurrent episodes of delirium and adverse outcomes. I plan to use this information to design a model of care for people with delirium during admission and after discharge. Such a model of care will encompass better support for people with delirium and their whānau and prevent adverse outcomes such as cognitive decline.