What do you mean by his mother
keeping a tight rope on him? Was she able to help him control this
behavior? Was she a resident, too? Is he looking for her or for a mother
figure? Did these other behavior changes start with the latest room
change? Is it the arrangement of the furniture? the lighting? Daylight
savings time? Depression can cause insomnia, pacing, wandering. Has
his vision changed so that's why looking at magazines doesn't
help?
Did the bloodwork address trace
minerals,
Is there anything else he chews
on? plants, window sills or door frames? look for potential lead or poison
ingestion.
Because of the Down
Syndrome-cardiac issues are common. Has he had a cardiac workup.
Chest pain? palpitations, murmurs can cause vague unsettling sensations that he
can't cope with.
Lastly, It wouldn't hurt to
have a 1:1 observation of his behaviors and routine. Lots of work,
but document whereabouts and activities continuously. someone shadows him. I saw
the amazing results of this kind of detective work before-but that's a whole
other story!
-----Original Message----- From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Park
Lane MDS Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 11:37 AM To:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: ideas needed
He has had problems with this for the 6 years I have been
here. He does like to, and does look at magazines. I don't
believe this is due to the move. We moved him back to the room he was
originally in when his mother was here. When she died, the
administration had him moved to another room. That was 3 years
ago. I do know his mother kept a tight rope on him. I am just
not sure what to do with him, or how to care plan this. Is this normal
for someone with down syndrome. We are seeing some other changes also
with him. He stays up late at night, wanders the halls, he used to
stay in his room throughout the day, and look at his magazines, but now he
is up waundering the halls. Had blood work done on him, came back
fine.
Not sure what else to do. He does not communicate
verbally, so we are unable to an answer to our questions. Family wants
to keep him safe and comftorable, but nothing heroic. So I am trying
to find out info on down syndrome and learn how to deal with the challenges
with them,.
Is this a behavioral problem r/t the
move??? Has he displayed this behavior in the past or is it
new??
Sounds like anything you “put” on
isn’t going to work. Is there anything else he enjoys. We have
a resident with severe MR that likes to hold a picture of animals.
It helps calm him and he doesn’t grind his teeth like he usually
does when he’s tense.
Heidi
Ebertowski,R.N.
MDS
Care Coordinator
Valley
Memorial Homes
Grand
Forks, ND
(701)787-7937
fax (701)787-7901
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-----Original
Message----- From: Park
Lane MDS [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:36
AM To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: ideas
needed
I
have a question for the group. I am at wits end, and I am looking
for any suggestions. I have a male resident who is in his 60's, he
has downs syndrome, I recently inhearited his problem from the other mds
coordinator when a room swap was done. But I digress.
The problem we are having is he is constantly chewing on both of his
thumbs. He chews on them at the knuckle part, and he has them red,
sore, and the doctor would like something done. We have tried
different types of flavors, like tobacco, hot sauce, bitter tastes,
putting band aides on them. He is not fased by the tastes, and he
removes the band aides, and throws them in the trash. We thought
about biker gloves, but he would not leave them on. So I am in need
of help. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. You can email
me privately if you want.
