Sometimes medications to treat obsessive
compulsive behaviors help in addition to behavior modification therapy - giving
him something to do that he cannot do at the same time as chewing on his
hands. Small dexterity tasks, playing cards, crafts, sewing, coloring,
sorting, etc.
Do you have a local chapter or facility
that works with the MR population? They can also assist with ideas.
Last resort is an arm splint that restricts the elbow from
bending (heavy duty restraint and dignity issue).
Does he have Dx of Dementia
also? I once had a resident w/ Downs who also had Alzheimers. Ir was quite
interesting. Her mother had kept her @ home as long as she could, and was
a good source for helping us figure out approp interventions. However, since
your resident's mother is no longer living you don't have that option. ....
Have you tried a psych consult?
-----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.
