The husband is NOT home bound so he can't be seen under home health. I didn't have enough time today to explore his fall issues.
Beth, on the phone, the husband sounded a little unsure of the situation. I think sometimes, it easier for caregivers to NOT increase patient involvement. For example, if during meal time, the patient stays occupied watching TV, the husband can stay more focused on his task. Conversely, if the husband is trying to get dinner made AND facilitate his wife's involvement, this is a much more complex task. Speaking from practical experience, I suck at multi-tasking and it's my observation that MOST other males also stink at doing more than one thing at a time. Thanks for the suggestion. I will follow up with the patinet's caregiver tomorrow. Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: ehthiers <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] NEED HELP WITH PATIENT e> You're wife's correct. Work with both people. My mother-in-law has e> mild/moderate dementia and her goal setting sucks. She doesn't understand e> what her needs are and is a happy lass with short term memory problems. e> This lady needs to help her husband that sounds like what he wants, observe e> the interaction in the kitchen safety strategies, wound care strategies, e> etc. Why is husband falling and does this need to be another referral? e> Beth Thiers, OTR/L e> East Central District e> FECTS e> [email protected] e> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron Carson >> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 6:08 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [OTlist] NEED HELP WITH PATIENT >> >> I evaluated a home health patient and I need help >> determining if OT is indicated. The patient's primary >> diagnosis is Alz. dementia. She also was recently d/c'd >> from the hospital secondary to a non-healing brown recluse >> spider bite, s/p 5 years ago. >> >> Her score on the SLUMS cogn screen is a 6/30, indicating >> mod-severe dementia. She lives with her husband, who is >> healthy but has had two recent falls in their modular home. >> The husband does all the housework, cooking and driving. >> The patient performs her own basic selfcare with supervison. >> She req. occasional asst. with sequencing for dressing. >> >> The patient reports she is an active reader. She attends >> church services every Sunday. The patient has no stated >> goals. She reports being "happy and content" with her life. >> She says that everyone else is worried about her memory but >> she knows that it will get better. The husband states it >> would be nice if his wife were able to help out in the kitchen. >> >> I told the husband that I needed to ponder the situation. I >> wasn't sure if I could help his wife or not. So, I'm >> turning to you guys. My wife suggested that I work with both >> the husband and the patient to teach him how to better >> integrate his wife into the daily routines. I presented this >> idea to him tonight on the phone and he said: "hum, I need to >> think about that". >> >> So, what do you guys say. Can OT help this lady? If so, how???????? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Ron >> >> ~~~ >> Ron Carson MHS, OT >> www.OTnow.com >> >> >> -- >> Options? >> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com >> >> Archive? >> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] e> -- e> Options? e> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com e> Archive? e> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
