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The quiet kind

Illustrated Story A03, with a text transcript.

Read story A03: The quiet kind (image and text)
Four-panel illustrated story. Mum lies awake in hospital, staring into the distance with lunch untouched. She says she is tired, but Karen says she was chatting yesterday. Karen tells the nurse that her mother is slow and far away; the nurse says the change needs checking. The nurse then sits at Mum’s bedside. Bottom line: Quiet and far away can be delirium. Report the change.

Delirium does not always make a person visibly restless or upset. A person may become unusually quiet, slow to respond, less interested in other people or less interested in food and drink. This quieter form is easily missed because it may not draw attention.

If someone is quieter than usual or seems less able to respond, tell a nurse or doctor. Describe what has changed and what the person is normally like.

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Story text

  1. Panel 1. Not everyone with delirium is agitated. Many go quiet.

    • Karen: Mum? You haven’t touched your lunch.

  2. Panel 2.

    • Mum: I’m just tired, love.
    • Karen: You were chatting away yesterday.

  3. Panel 3.

    • Karen: She’s not herself. She’s slow and far away.
    • Nurse: Thank you for telling me. That is a change we need to check.

  4. Panel 4. Quiet delirium is often missed because the person may not draw attention.

Bottom band. Quiet and far away can be delirium. Report the change.

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