3. Practical advice and tips for carers > Cognition

Cognition

2) Practical tips to help someone with cognitive problems

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  • What is the problem?
    Speak to doctors, therapists and nurses. If the person has been seen by a clinical psychologist, ask to speak to them.
    Ask what strategies they have tried while in hospital which you could try at home.
    If you know what problems to expect this may help to plan ahead.
  • Use prompts.
    Help them organise and plan, such as prompting to use calendar, diary, notebook etc.
  • Improve concentration.
    If the person has difficulty concentrating on a book try reading poetry, magazine articles or short newspaper articles. Especially if these have photographs to talk about and reinforce the text.
  • Break the task down.
    When the person has limited attention or impulsive behaviour, complex tasks which have to be done in a correct sequence to be completed become very difficult.
    If a task is too dangerous to leave without completing within a certain time the person will need supervision, for example, tasks such as cooking or using electrical equipment.

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  • What is the problem?
    Speak to doctors, therapists and nurses. If the person has been seen by a clinical psychologist, ask to speak to them.
    Ask what strategies they have tried while in hospital which you could try at home.
    If you know what problems to expect this may help to plan ahead.
  • Use prompts.
    Help them organise and plan, such as prompting to use calendar, diary, notebook etc.
  • Improve concentration.
    If the person has difficulty concentrating on a book try reading poetry, magazine articles or short newspaper articles. Especially if these have photographs to talk about and reinforce the text.
  • Break the task down.
    When the person has limited attention or impulsive behaviour, complex tasks which have to be done in a correct sequence to be completed become very difficult.
    If a task is too dangerous to leave without completing within a certain time the person will need supervision, for example, tasks such as cooking or using electrical equipment.