Try: Know the main side effects of the cr’s seizure medicines the doctor is the best source of this

Materials: n/a

Categories: Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: The package insert provided with the cr cr’s prescription lists full information on side effects however most of these will never occur in the cr be aware that some side effects occur from drug interactions among all medications be aware of the risk of suicide due to seizure medications seizure medicines have long been known to help some crs with depression but to also make others worse the fda recently took a look at their database of clinical studies of people taking epilepsy medicines their findings showed a slight increase in suicide and depression among individuals taking seizure medications if the cr has issues with depression consider the following do not allow the cr to immediately stop taking seizure medicine it could be dangerous if the cr has symptoms of depression such as crying and low mood please discuss them at visits with the cr cr’s doctors information

References: Adapted from www epilepsy com

Keywords: Epilepsy seizure medication

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

Try: Try to help cr understand that some people do not know what to say to a grieving person people react to death differently cr should try not to be offended if someone makes a comment that cr feels is insensitive cr needs to go through the different stages of grief in order to accept death it it’s important to be sensitive to others feelings but cr should do what he she feels is best for him her no matter what cr’s circumstances grief produces a range of emotions and each should be acknowledged make sure that cr understands that he she doesn’t have to go through this alone try to get cr to accept help when offered cr should try to avoid letting anyone tell him her when it is time to move on cr is the only one who really knows how he she feels reassure cr that it is ok and normal to be angry at god now is not the time to debate this question but to accept that it is ok to have these feelings try to help cr work through the denial and anger so he she can reach acceptance

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Personal

Information: From the telephone book look under support groups or nicotine anonymous

References: how to cope with the death of a loved one by margaret norton no date available at www howtodothings com

Keywords: Grief death loss

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

Try: State calmly what you know to be true if appropriate and then reassure and distract cr try reminding cr of the nice things the person he she is suscpicius of has done for cr try to remember that although cr cr’s interpretation may be wrong the way he she feels is real explain to others that they should not take unfounded accusations seriously avoid automatically dismissing cr cr’s suspicions if there is any possibility that they may be true

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, 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: n/a

References: unusual behaviourby janet keane 2010 available at www alzheimers org uk

Keywords: Suscpicious plotting suspects accuses accusations imagination dilusions dilusional

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

Try: Make sure cr has enough exercise during the day and that he or she uses the toilet before going to bed try a walk before bedtime a warm milky drink and soothing company before cr falls asleep if cr wakes up gently remind him her that it is night time during the light summer months it can feel like daytime even late at night or very early in the morning so try putting a clock that shows whether it is am or pm next to the bed and consider darker curtains or blackout blinds

Materials: Warm milk clock that displays a m and p m darker curtains blackout blinds

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: unusual behaviourby janet keane 2010 available at www alzheimers org uk

Keywords: Night time night wakes up dresses at night restless restlessness pacing paces insomnia sleep

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

Try: Try to find the reason cr is pacing for example pacing may indicate that cr wants to use the toilet but is unable to tell you try asking cr whether he she needs to use the toilet or lead him her towards it if cr insists on pacing try to find somewhere cr can walk safely give cr some reassurance then try to distract him her with an interesting activity or by involving him her in some form of exercise if cr has always been active and walked regularly he she may be feeling frustrated and want some fresh air help to choose comfortable clothes and shoes offer drinks and snacks check the cr cr’s feet regularly for redness swellings or blisters try to persuade cr to rest from time to time

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Cognitive Awareness, Fully Aware, 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: n/a

References: unusual behaviourby janet keane 2010 available at www alzheimers org uk

Keywords: Paces pacing restless restlessness exercise toileting repetitive behavior

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

Try: Try to distract cr’s attention and offer reassurance try giving cr something to occupy his her hands such as a soft toy or worry beads or provide a ‘rummage’ box containing interesting objects

Materials: Soft toy worry beads ‘rummage box containing interesting objects

Categories: Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: unusual behaviourby janet keane 2010 available at www alzheimers org uk

Keywords: Fidgets fidgety fidgeting nervous bored paces pacing repetitive behavior

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

Try: Try to understand and acknowledge cr cr’s feelings and reassure him her that he she is safe and loved repeatedly asking to go home can be a sign of anxiety insecurity fear or depression the concept of ‘home’ might evoke memories of a time or place where cr felt comfortable or safe or of a home family and friends that no longer exist if cr doesn’t recognise his her present environment as ‘home’ then it isn’t home for cr

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, 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: n/a

References: unusual behaviourby janet keane 2010 available at www alzheimers org uk

Keywords: Repeats repetitive wants to go home boredom pacing anxious depression feeling safe

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

Try: Suggest that cr start a gratitude list help cr think about things he she is thankful for and write them down in a spiral notebook every day suggest that cr specify a specific time everyday to write down positive things in his her life for example cr might be grateful for having a family or a sweet pet to care for or grandchildren to play with suggest that cr read over his her gratitude list whenever he she is having a bad day or is being too negative or gloomy about life

Materials: Spiral notebook and pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Negative thinking critical stress gratitude grateful worry worries worrying

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

Try: Cr may want to consider cutting back on the time he she spends with that person or establish healthier relationship boundaries for example cr might set certain topics off-limits if cr know that talking about them with that person makes him her anxious suggest that cr choose his her confidantes carefully cr should know who to talk to about situations that make cr anxious some people will help cr gain perspective while others will feed into cr’s worries doubts and fears

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Personal

Information: n/a

References: how to stop worrying self-help strategies for anxiety relief by melinda smith robert segal and jeanne segal 2012 available at www helpguide org

Keywords: Worry worries anxiety anxious stress negative negativity dragged down stressful situations problem solving confidants

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

Try: Suggest that cr start by identifying the frightening thought being as detailed as possible about what scares or worries him her then instead of viewing these thoughts as facts suggest that cr treat them as hypotheses he she is testing out as cr examine and challenge his her worries and fears he she will develop a more balanced perspective

Materials: Paper and pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: how to stop worrying self-help strategies for anxiety relief by melinda smith robert segal and jeanne segal 2012 available at www helpguide org

Keywords: Worry worries anxiety anxious stress problem solving

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