Try: Try setting up a daily schedule for cr make sure it includes enough rest sleep use a calendar to help cr follow the schedule try reducing cr’s family and social demands try to help cr to pace him herself suggest that cr try to conserve his her energy for important tasks in the day try to motivate cr to have an active lifestyle regular exercise increases stamina allow cr time for undisturbed rest during the day a nap is usually 30-60 minutes try to schedule important appointments for times of the day when cr is most awake learn the signs of fatigue in cr ask him her to do the same make a list of the signs and keep it in his her calendar memory notebook

Materials: Calender pen and paper

Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Medical Physical, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile

Information: With the claims medicare processed to make sure he she or medicare weren’t billed for services or items he she didn’t get encourage cr to check his her receipts and statements early , the sooner cr sees and reports errors the sooner they can be corrected or fraud can be stopped

References: traumatic brain injury a guide for caregivers of service members and veterans – module 2 by the office of the u s surgeon general no date available at www traumaticbraininjuryatoz org

Keywords: Tired fatigue stamina

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

Try: Try dividing task into small successive steps provide assistance as needed try to be patient allow ample time try again at a later time obtain caregiving assistance from others try demonstrating action or task allow cr to perform parts of task that he she can do independently try restating instructions more simply break down task provide step-by-step instructions try to reassure comfort distract cr with music or conversation have cr help perform task try setting up task sequence by arranging material i e clothing in order to be used help cr get started on the task

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: If it is pertinent if he she repeats the information it is best not to say anything about it cr may only feel embarrassed and frustrated unnecessarily if cr hears better when others talk louder this may mean cr has a hearing loss try suggesting to cr that he she get a hearing aid if cr already has one check the batteries and make sure the hearing aid is fitted right in cr’s ear

References: managing difficult behavior by northwestern university feinberg school of medicine 2002 available at www brain northwestern edu

Keywords: Tasks confused dressing activities of daily living trouble understanding housework

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

Try: Ry to be sure you have cr’s attention call him her by name let cr see your face as you talk hearing is easier when looking at the person who is talking try to reduce or eliminate competing sounds for example turn down the tv or radio; if noise is coming from the next room close the door to shut it out try to reduce the time listening is required cr may be able to concentrate well for a short period and after a rest may be ready to concentrate again

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Medical Physical, Personal, Social, Hearing, So-So Hearing, Poor Hearing, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: basic suggestions to improve care by northwestern university feinberg school of medicine 2002 available at www brain northwestern edu

Keywords: Converation communication concentration

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

Try: Try to speak more slowly than usual repeat or reword what you have said when it is not understood try to use normal facial expressions and gestures during conversations to help cr better interpret what you are saying or trying to express if you need to give cr multistep directions try to give one step at a time when one step is completed give he next one try to encourage friends and family to have routine conversations with cr it will interest cr and because of its familiarity should be easier to follow if cr has trouble choosing the right words or has trouble talking try to get the gist of what he she is saying if you have an idea of what cr is trying to say ask do you mean ___ you may need to try several possibilities before determining the message if you can’t figure out what cr is trying to say ask cr to give the message in another way encourage use of alternative words gestures or writing be patient allow cr time to express him herself if cr has trouble remembering what he she has said remind him her of the

Materials: Pen paper

Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Medical Physical, Personal, Social, Hearing, So-So Hearing, Poor Hearing, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: If it is pertinent if he she repeats the information it is best not to say anything about it cr may only feel embarrassed and frustrated unnecessarily if cr hears better when others talk louder this may mean cr has a hearing loss try suggesting to cr that he she get a hearing aid if cr already has one check the batteries and make sure the hearing aid is fitted right in cr’s ear

References: basic suggestions to improve care by northwestern university feinberg school of medicine 2002 available at www brain northwestern edu

Keywords: Understanding conversations memory loss hearing loss

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

Try: Equal consideration and non-discrimination considering all relevant circumstances regaining capacity permitting and encouraging participation by the cr special considerations for life-sustaining treatment the cr’s wishes and feelings beliefs and values the views of family and friends any decision should involve the cr their relatives and if required a mental capacity evaluator and should be the least restrictive solution possible

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Pb rcpsych org

Keywords: Capacity decision making mental

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

Try: Understanding a cr must have an understanding of the facts involved the minimal interpretation of this that the medical practitioner has provided the

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: To the cr the practitioner must determine however how much the cr truly comprehends the cr should show they understand what is wrong what the proposed treatment is and the risks and benefits of treatment appreciation a cr must appreciate the significance of the decision they make to understand what the facts behind a decision really mean a cr needs to have psychological insight into their condition and consequences of their decision reasoning a cr should be able to logically identify the pros and cons of their decision this is about the reasoning process in decision-making a cr should be able to use the information presented to them to analyze the available options values a cr must hold a reasonably consistent set of values upon which to base their decision this is about reliability the ability to make a decision and stick to it over a period of time some cr’s will base a healthcare decision on religious beliefs information

References: Medicalobserver com

Keywords: Decisional capacity decision making

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

Try: Understand the

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: Relevant to the decision can retain the information even if only for short periods can use or weigh the information relevant in the decision-making process including seeing both sides of the argument and being able to make a decision one way or the other can communicate their decision by talking using sign language or another form of communication understood by others remember it is important to provide full support before it is decided the cr lacks capacity and to tailor this support to try to remedy any problems identified in these four areas information

References: Pb rcpsych org

Keywords: Decisional capacity decision making

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

Try: Try breaking the skill into simple steps try to allow plenty of time for cr to practice try repeating the learning over several days try using something like a checklist to show cr when each step is complete if cr uses adaptive equipment such as a walker wheelchair or special seating try to introduce it before it is absolutely needed to allow cr time for learning and relearning

Materials: Paper and pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Medical Physical, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: Try to break tasks into small steps and write them out try offering cr limited choices and avoid asking cr open-ended questions for example ask do you want beef or chicken for dinner instead of what do you want to eat try using simple to-do lists and a calendar or appointment book try to plan activities so that the same type of thing happens at the same time every day try to get into a regular routine so that cr doesn’t have to rely so much on his her memory

References: a caregiver’s guide to huntington’s disease by huntington’s disease society of america 2011 available at www hdsa org

Keywords: Memory learning forgets forgetfulness

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

Try: Try to establish predictable routines for the cr cr’s daily life try to make the cr cr’s life less complex sometimes handing off a job that has become too difficult will significantly decrease the cr cr’s anxiety break up even simple tasks into smaller parts to make it easier for the cr to do try to pay attention regarding what makes the cr anxious the cr may worry less when he or she knows in advance about changes to routines you also could try telling cr right before the event happens

Materials: n/a

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Somewhat Aware, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: With cr sometimes information is taken more seriously when it comes from someone outside the family

References: Adapted from www hdsa com a caregiver’s guide to huntington’s disease by huntington’s disease society of america 2011

Keywords: Anxious anxiety nervous memory loss forgetfulness forgets

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

Try: Try to reduce noise and other distractions when thinking is required try to avoid the need to multitask , this will help cr do one thing at a time try to give cr directions in short sentences containing one to two pieces of

Materials: Pen paper appointment book

Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware

Information: Try to break tasks into small steps and write them out try offering cr limited choices and avoid asking cr open-ended questions for example ask do you want beef or chicken for dinner instead of what do you want to eat try using simple to-do lists and a calendar or appointment book try to plan activities so that the same type of thing happens at the same time every day try to get into a regular routine so that cr doesn’t have to rely so much on his her memory

References: a caregiver’s guide to huntington’s disease by huntington’s disease society of america 2011 available at www hdsa org

Keywords: Distracted prioritize memory routine focus attention forgets forgetfulness

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