Help with delerium in elderly man

[Rachel_W]

Hello,
My dad had encephalitis about 5 years ago, at the age of 86, but recovered remarkably well (he just turned 91), however he seemed more prone to confusion when tired, especially as he was also found to be suffering from intermittent UTIs and also electrolyte imbalances.

They decided he should get a catheter to empty his bladder properly, but this just caused more UTIs and more frequent episodes of delerium. Now he cannot urinate without the catheter so it seems there to stay, at least for nowm which we are quite upset about, as it was a catheter that started his urinating issues when in the hospital for 2.5 weeks with the viral encephalitis.

So back in June he had actually been assessed for dementia because of the episodes of confusion and they ruled this out. He attended a wedding and seemed fine but did have a fall. The next day he was quite confused and after a few days he was admitted to the hospital due to another UTI but also an electrolyte imbalance, both of which can cause delerium. His symptoms perfectly match hyperactive delerium too.
The UTI went away and his electrolytes were mainly sorted but his confusion remained. The neurologist ordered a brain scan which came back clear (and nothing to suggest brain shrinkage). He had a lumbar puncture which was also clear.
There was some kind of issue where he seemed to be only be able to concentrate on one task (e.g. hold a cup, but unable to drink from it) and the neurologist said he thought it was due to his anti-seizure meds which he started taking after he had two seizures at the beginning of his encephalitis - sodium valporate. He thought that he should be weaned off it but had to stay in the hospital for 8 weeks during this time.
My dad was confused most of the time, but eating better, and eventually they let him 'home' to my sister's house where my Mum has also been staying. Carers come in 4 times a day.
He cannot really walk due to being forced to stay in bed for so long, and although he knows who people are and was telling one of his great grandchildren the ABCs, he is still really out of it. It has been a week. I have read that delerium can take months in some people, and I wonder whether the fact that he was not in a home environment, as well as having after affects of encephalitis could be hindering his recovery.
It is also like he is unable to comunicate but knows what is going on. E.g. I talked on a video chat and he was told I was there and he was telling people in the room to tell me to get the red snake and then he would follow me. I had been sending him videos of my hiking when he was in the hospital, but also he kept saying this and seemed frustrated that people were obviously not truly understanding him, but just saying okay. Like he would close his eyes and put his head back and when my sister asked him where he was, he said 'hell'.
Is there any activities or something that might improve his condition.
I was also wondering the best way to maintain electrolyte balance.
In addition, could MCT oul help, or could this just exacerbate his situation?
I am in the US and he is in the UK. I will be going over soon and hope to be able to do calming, but useful activities with him too.
Any ideas would be great.

Thanks all.