Try: Get up and move around to feel awake a brief walk or movement can avoid drowsiness that’s because walking pumps oxygen through your veins brain and muscles try short walks or at least stand take a nap to take the edge off sleepiness there are two things to remember about naps don’t take more than one and don’t take it too close to your bedtime it’s best to nap about six or seven hours before you would normally go to bed if you must take a late nap close to bedtime make it a short one give your eyes a break to avoid fatigue continuous fixation on a computer screen can cause eyestrain and worsen sleepiness and fatigue look away from the screen for a few minutes periodically to relax your eyes eat a healthy snack to boost energy sugary snacks give you a quick energy boost followed by the sugar lows when low blood sugar produces mental fogginess and lethargy eat a healthy small snack instead start a conversation to wake up your mind if you’re fading fast engaging in conversation can get your mind moving again talk with a friend or family member turn up the lights to ease fatigue environments with dim lighting increase drowsiness studies have shown that exposure to bright light can reduce sleepiness and increase alertness try increasing light in the environment

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Webmd com

Keywords: Sleep drowsiness rest

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

Try: Try giving cr moment-to-moment cues for example when cr gets up in the morning or after a nap some comment can be made that tells cr what day and what season it is this type of cueing is particularly helpful outside the home for example you might say we are at the post office to buy some stamps and to mail a letter to our son fred try telling cr in advance what is scheduled for the day as well as where he she is going with whom and for how long reviewing these activities upon their completion will also be helpful for example you might say we are done buying stamps and mailing the letter to our son fred

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, 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: A recent picture and description of cr a current list of medications and past medications if known a copy of the criteria for emergency evaluations and civil commitments in your jurisdiction a doctor psychiatrist or social worker can help you get this information if possible ask cr to sign a medical release form that allows you to see his her medical information

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

Keywords: Disoriented disorientation forgets forgetful memory loss week day year dates

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

Try: Try changing the size and texture of food soft moist tasteful hot or cold foods are easiest to eat identify and eliminate foods that trigger coughing and choking typically these are foods that are crispy flaky or crumbly bland lukewarm foods tend to be less appetizing serve small pieces of meat and vegetables and encourage cr to take small amounts in each bite try serving soft moist foods like mashed potatoes noodles soup casseroles yogurt pudding gelatin ice cream milk shakes smooth cooked cereals and macaroni and cheese try to make foods more smooth and moist by adding gravy cream sauce salad dressing broth sour cream mayonnaise or butter try offering cr a covered travel mug for hot liquids and a straw with cold liquids to prevent choking avoid acidic beverages if they irritate cr’s throat cause heartburn or cause choking these may include orange juice grapefruit juice lemon juice and tomato juice avoid spicy and peppery foods if they cause choking if liquids and beverages cause cr to choke try adding one of the thickening products available at drugstores cornstarch can also be used as a thickener

Materials: Travel mug with lid and straw liquid thickening product or cornstarch

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

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

Keywords: Choking chokes swallow swallowing chew chewing food

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

Try: Make sure to turn off the tv try to keep conversation light , no big decisions try to maintain cr’s focus on his her food you might try saying something like isn’t this roast delicious try to be encouraging about eating you might try saying something like you’re doing well with that fork or the travel mug is a lot easier to drink out of isn’t it i’m glad we thought of that

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical, Personal, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

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

Keywords: Distracted distractions mealtime food nutrition concentration eating

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

Try: Try choosing chairs with high backs good seat depth and padded armrests make sure the chair seat is not too high solid foot support is important for balance try using a small wedge cushion or lumbar support ton make cr’s lower back more comfortable suggest that cr try using a waist belt for more back support try putting cushioning on either side of the chair make sure the chair has an open bottom to allow cr’s feet to slide under and allow cr to get a better center of gravity before he she stands up

Materials: Small wedge cushion small pillows waist belt

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance

Information: n/a

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

Keywords: Back muscles torso sitting upright standing up balance

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

Try: Try using less breakable dishes and glasses try using soup plates or pasta bowls instead of flat plates avoid using tall or stemmed glasses that are top heavy try using travel cups with a cover and attached straw to prevent spills try using spoons and forks with large handles or utensils made for people with arthritis try replacing placemats with a small non-skid mat to keep dishes from slipping

Materials: Soup plates pasta bowls travel mugs with straws non-skid placemat large handle utensils or utensils made for arthritis

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

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

Keywords: Feeding jerks jerking involuntary movements tableware utensils holding fork holding spoon spills drinks eating

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

Try: Straws encourage crs to develop control over their lower lip and other muscles on the face in order to stop them from drooling the more extensive they work on controlling the muscles on their lower lip the faster they will be able to solve the problem another great way to help crs stop drooling is to have cotton ball races the crs blow their cotton balls towards the finish line it’s a good simple game to play also have the cr blow bubbles whistling is another lip control exercise peanut butter lip this will be a great strength exercise drool awareness you can help the cr increase their awareness with sensitive and gentle reminders that they are drooling and they should not be

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Simple-remedies com

Keywords: Drooling saliva

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

Try: Since sugary foods increase saliva and since drooling is the result of problems swallowing saliva try to avoid giving the cr foods with sugar in them encourage the cr to keep his or her lips closed and chin up when not speaking or eating also popsicles or other cold objects may be helpful these types of foods can reduce saliva if possible talk to a physical therapist about lip exercises that may help to strengthen the muscles in the cr’s lips

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Care com

Keywords: Drooling saliva

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

Try: Call your health care provider if the cause of the drooling has not been diagnosed there is concern about aspiration the cr has a fever difficulty breathing or holds her head in a strange position the doctor will do a physical examination and ask the cr questions about the symptoms including is there a history of any other diseases has the cr had a bite or sting has the cr had an injury what medications is the cr taking what other symptoms are present

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Www myoptumhealth com

Keywords: Drooling saliva

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

Try: Avoid eating when not fully conscious just awakening from sleep reduce distraction select nutrient-rich food to improve nutritional status select food with appropriate texture purees thick or semi-thick liquids select appropriate utensils keep proper positioning upright sitting head in upright position some exercises can strengthen muscles and improve closure during swallowing consult a health care provider if the cr is interested

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Www info gov hk

Keywords: Drooling saliva

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