Attend Factsheet 1f:
Developing a home activity programme
1. Draw up a list of possible activities that are within the person’s capabilities. 2. Get information about your local facilities. 3. Get advice from others. 4. Plan a clear routine. 5. Be aware of difficulties with motivation. 6. Be aware of fatigue. 7. Start slowly (fewer activities at the beginning of the programme). 8. Review progress and celebrate your achievements
Thinking Skills
House hold tasks: Making drinks, planning menus, following basic instructions (verbal, visual or written). Discussions: Discuss daily news, describe a situation and ask what would be the best response to it, discuss a family dilemma, talk about alternative ways of dealing with the situation and their consequences, and ask for the four main steps required in tasks like making toast. Games and puzzles: puzzle books are full of material for practising thinking skills. Computer equipment: contain a wealth of information; there is even computer software that can be helpful. Organising and planning skills: can be practiced by doing some chores like tidying & sorting, planning meals or even card & strategy games. Concentration skills: can affect other skill areas. It may be difficult for someone to follow instructions, plan or organise. Activities that could help are puzzles, computer games, reading a story and then answering questions about it, or tasks following instructions like cooking recipes. Number skills: Shopping and budgeting, cooking (measuring ingredients), and craft activities (following patterns where stiches need to be counted like knitting.)
Seeing and recognising skills
Difficulties with sensory or perceptual skills occur when the brain cannot interpret what the body is seeing or feeling.
Ignoring one side: there may be difficulties in not seeing both sides of what they’re looking at and may not appear to see one side. This is known as visual neglect. Symptoms include not dressing one side, only eating one side of a plate. There is also auditory neglect which is where the person does not respond to sound on their neglected side. Things that can help are using touch, head turning, and dressing in front of a mirror. Difficulties in judging distances between objects: Perception of depth and distances can be a problem after a brain injury. It is a good to move more cautiously on stairs, not to put drinks on edges, and to use extreme caution near fires or heat. Good games to play are building wooden blocks, and bowling. Difficulties in picking out an object from against a background: it is a good idea to keep rooms well organised and clutter free, using contrast to make objects more easily visible. It is also a good idea to label drawers and use white plates so there is contrast from the food. Loss of taste and/or smell: use stronger flavours and smells, make meals attractive looking and use a variety of textures and colours. Play favourite music so mealtime can become enjoyable. Smoke detectors are very important, be careful of gas stoves, and timers help prevent burnt food.
Memory Aids
The best way to help someone with memory loss is to watch their daily routines so you can come up with simple ways to help them cope with their problems. Household organisation- being more organised helps one to become more efficient leaving time and energy for other activities. Ways to do this are by labelling, organising clothes, menu planning, and shopping lists. Written reminders- Wall charts, calendar, wipe-off board, birthday planner, Diary, checklists, post it notes, and pocket notebook. Electronic equipment -watch, telephone, Dictaphone, and “NeuroPage” paging system Kitchen equipment -Timer, Microwave, “drink reminder” mat, and medication reminders. Safety- Smoke alarms, gas alarms, and equipment that automatically turns off itself.
Communication Skills
Difficulties concentrating on speech- Don’t talk where there are distractions, Discuss tasks before you start them, stick to one topic, and make it clear when you change topics. Difficulties understanding speech- If there are difficulties make sure they are assessed by a speech and language therapist. It is a good idea to speak slower, but not too much that it sounds as if you’re talking to a child, Encourage the person to tell you when they don’t understand something, be careful when using phrases, jokes, sarcasm or exaggeration, use gestures, drawings or photos. Difficulties producing speech sounds- If you understand what they said accept it and don’t try and correct it, don’t pretend to understand what they’ve said when you don’t. If you only understand a part of what someone said repeat that part back so they don’t have to repeat the whole thing, only what you missed, encourage non-vocal means of communication (writing, typing, and sign language). Difficulties selecting the right words- give them time to get there, if they can’t think of it help them but give them the opportunity to correct you. Talking inappropriately- If they behave out of context ignore them or explain why it isn’t appropriate for them to be doing what they are doing, stay calm and don’t lose your temper, leave the room if you must. Practising word skills- discussion is a great way to practice spontaneously, it usually happens in response to what is happening at the time. This can be effective in providing immediate feedback and encouraging appropriate behaviour. It’s also great to read short passages, new articles, letters or poems and ask them questions to see how much was remembered.
Physical Skills
Hand co-ordination- General daily activities that need hand co-ordination: using keys & telephone, cleaning up, and writing. Personal care activities: styling hair & make up, shaving, turning on water. House work activities: folding laundry, cleaning, use of a dust pan and brush and sewing. Kitchen work: twisting lids, and using scissors. Hobbies: drawing, photography, gardening, video games, crafts. Limb weakness or paralysis- Hemiparesis (weakness of one side of the body) or hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) can occur following a brain injury which makes everyday activities difficult. Occupational therapists can help and advise you on how to improve the ability to use the parts of the body that are affected.
Contact
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