Try: Make note of anytime you smell alcohol on the cr’s breath gently discuss the problem with the cr to see if he or she is open to change encourage the cr to enroll in a local 12-step program remove alcohol from the premises and any liquids mouthwash etc that contain alcohol alert family members or power of attorney and encourage them to assist and support the recovery program

Materials: Notebook pen pencil local resource information

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: Medications are available to help the cr safely withdraw from alcohol acupuncture and chiropractic care may be helpful in recovery

References: n/a

Keywords: Addictions alcohol alcohol abuse support groups recovery withdrawal

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Make note of all medications and count them daily discuss the problem with the cr and make him or her aware that you know about the problem remind the cr the quantity and time the medication should be taken if the problem persists consider this an addiction and continue with the following locate a local support group and encourage the cr to enroll or begin reading watching resource materials from the group if he or she cannot attend make a plan to reduce chronic pain without the use of pain pills find out the source of the pain and research pain relieving strategies such as massage chiropractic care acupuncture etc

Materials: Medication log local addiction resources

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Emotional Psychological, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Addiction pain pills chronic pain massage chiropractic care acupuncture

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Check to see if the Care recipient (cr) is exhibiting any of the following struggles with performing familiar tasks language problems forgetting simple words and saying things that don’t make sense doesn’t know where he or she is disoriented about how he or she got to where he or she is poor judgment having trouble adding or subracting misplaces items and puts objects in strange places rapid mood swings personality changes disinterested in activities that he or she used to enjoy

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal, Social

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from information found at the alzheimer alzheimer’s association

Keywords: Alzheimers dementia personality disorder language problems mood swings

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If you are concerned that the cr may have cancer look for the following signs changes in a mole or wart sores that will not heal blood in the urine difficulty urinating or passing stool a thick lump in any part of the body persistent cough and or coughing up blood sore throat and difficulty swallowing unrelated to cold-symptoms frequent indigestion and or stomach pain

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from information found at the american cancer society www cancer org

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Caffeine alcohol and nicotine exacerbate restlessness encourage the cr to avoid those products as much as possible coffee drinkers may have a hard time switching to decaf so help the cr make the switch over time mixing caffeine with decaf until the cr is completely drinking decaf decaf coffee still contains a small amount of caffeine so encourage the cr to limit his or her coffee drinking to early morning only caffeine free products are 100 without caffeine practice relaxation and breathing techniques with the cr go for a brisk walk with the cr encourage the cr to get plenty of exercise and eat a well balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables encourage the cr to practice good sleeping habits going to bed and waking up at the same time each day

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Restlessness caffeine nicotine alcohol exercise diet relaxation breathing

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Dizziness and confusion can occur when the cr is taking multiple medications notate each medication what it it’s for and how the cr reacts after taking it before you assume the cr has dementia or a related illness consider weaning the cr off of the medications with permission of the healthcare provider one at a time to determine if the medication is the problem

Materials: Medication list or journal

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Confusion dizziness dimentia medication overdose

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If the cr is in danger of hurting him or herself around the clock care may be needed discuss this with the cr’s family and healthcare providers providing a number of distractions for the cr when he or she is upset or depressed may be helpful try some of the following keep a fresh batch of the cr’s favorite type of movies books word puzzles or activities handy provide a journal for the cr to write in when he or she is upset encourage the cr to call a trusted friend or family member when he or she is upset or depressed provide soothing music practice relaxation techniques with the cr plant an indoor or outdoor garden together if possible that the cr can tend to at will discuss self-injury with the cr in detail make a plan of action with the cr in the event that the distraction techniques do not work and remind the cr to call 911 in an emergency make sure the cr is clear that planning to injure him or herself is an emergency

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Personal, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Self-injury depression self-harm upset emergency

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If the cr has started shouting without having displayed this problem previously this may be a sign of a more serious underlying issue such as abuse neglect depression or severe anxiety especially if the cr is shouting out in his sleep keep a journal of when the shouting occurs with date time and the disposition of the cr on the day that it occurs look for signs of abuse or neglect in the cr bruises dehydration malnutrition etc report any problems to adult services if possible discuss the shouting problem with the cr it may be something as simple as the fact that the cr is losing his or her hearing

Materials: Notebook pen pencil

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Emotional Psychological

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Abuse anxiety depression hearing loss neglect shouting

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #clear furniture and objects out of the way so the cr doesn’t injure himself #try to move the cr to lay on 1 side during the seizure #place a pillow under the cr’s head if possible #don’t put anything into the cr’s mouth #don’t try to hold the cr down #call an ambulance only if the cr has been injured during the seizure

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Medical Physical, Immobile

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from epileptic seizures on www webmd com

Keywords: Epilepsy seizures

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Encourage the cr to eat a well-balanced diet an overweight person tends to snore more certain medications can cause snoring encourage the cr to discuss this with his healthcare provider alcohol and nicotine can cause snoring help the cr find a program to stop these harmful habits nasal breathing strips found at the drug store can help open the nasal passages you may encourage the cr to enter into a sleep study if the snoring continues to be disruptive which may lead to sleep apnea and be a sign of a much more serious problem

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Snoring sleep issues sleep disturbance sleep apnea diet alcohol smoking

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed