Delirium may have contributed. Understanding what happened means looking at the whole illness: the condition that caused the delirium, the person’s health before it began, any complications, and how they responded to treatment.
Some people die from the illness that brought on delirium. In others, delirium and its complications add to the decline. Often more than one problem contributes, and the team may not be able to say how much each one contributed.
Asking the team
After a death, you may have questions that you could not ask at the time. You can ask for a conversation with someone from the team who knew your relative. It may help to write your questions down first.
You might ask: “What do you think caused their death? Did delirium or its complications contribute? Were there signs that they were distressed, and what was done to help?”
Questions about whether the person recognised you or understood what you said may be harder to answer. Ask the team to explain what they observed and what remains uncertain.
If you have concerns
Families are not expected to recognise every sign or prevent every complication. Needing rest or being unable to visit all the time does not mean you failed your relative. If you are concerned that delirium was missed or treatment was delayed, you can ask for those concerns to be reviewed.
Support after a death
You can also ask about bereavement support. It is reasonable to seek another conversation later if further questions arise.
More: Can someone die from delirium? and Did we cause this? Should we have spotted it sooner?