An 82-year-old man is admitted to a medical-surgical unit for diagnostic confirmation and management of probable delirium. Which of the following statements by the client's daughter best supports the diagnosis?
1. "Dad has always been so independent. He's lived alone for years since my mom died."
2. "Dad just didn't seem to know what he was doing. He would forget what he had for breakfast."
3. "Maybe it's just caused by aging. This usually happens by age 82."
4. "The changes in his behavior came on so quickly. I wasn't sure what was happening."
4
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by a rapid and abrupt onset of symptoms. While delirium is more common in older individuals, aging is not a cause of delirium. Impairments in short-term memory are more indicative of dementia. The fact that he had been independent has no bearing on his current symptoms.
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