Moving, Handling and Safety, Activities of Daily Living, Senses, Communication Flashcards
(36 cards)
Where can you find information about a service user’s mobility capabilities?
The person’s Care Plan, the person’s carer, client-held records, or another member of the team with more knowledge of the person.
What factors can affect a person’s ability to move safely after stroke?
Limb weakness, loss of coordination, poor balance, changes in vision, altered thinking processes, loss of feeling, changes in behavior, and drowsiness.
How can poor safety awareness following stroke increase risk?
An individual with poor safety awareness may be unaware of their difficulties and limitations, increasing their risk of falls or injury when attempting to move independently.
What daily activities can be affected by stroke?
Washing, dressing, grooming, domestic activities (cooking & cleaning), leisure/socializing, work, and driving.
How can emotional changes after stroke affect daily activities?
They can affect a person’s ability to engage in daily life, interact with friends and family, and return to work. Changes like anger, frustration, and impatience can make it challenging for families/carers to interact with the person.
What is a good approach when helping someone work toward their goals after stroke?
Break down goals into smaller steps, set timescales, reassure that smaller steps work toward the main goal, involve the person in each stage, identify related aspects they enjoyed, seek specialist help, and regularly review progress.
How might a person describe loss of feeling after stroke?
Pins and needles, numbness, hot or cold sensations, “dead” feeling, heaviness, burning, and/or tingling.
What are consequences of loss of feeling after stroke?
Scalds and burns, cuts and abrasions, falls, damage to skin, and further injuries due to lack of pain sensation as a protective mechanism.
What strategies can help protect someone with loss of feeling?
Ensure they know about their loss of feeling, understand possible effects, encourage good positioning and regular position changes, use existing aids/adaptations, inform family/carers, make the environment safer, and seek community rehab services if needed.
What are the four main components of the visual system?
1) Eyes, 2) Muscular control of the eyes, 3) Visual pathways, and 4) Visual perception.
What is hemianopia?
Loss of half of the field of vision in each eye (the most common form of visual field loss after stroke).
What strategies can help a person with visual inattention/neglect?
Explain their visual defect, encourage scanning to the affected side, encourage touching the affected side during activities, keep the environment clear of clutter, use bright tape to locate edges, inform family/carers, and refer to an Occupational Therapist or Low Vision specialist.
What is aphasia?
A language disorder affecting how an individual can use language, making it difficult to talk, understand what others are saying, read, or write.
What is dysarthria?
A speech disorder resulting from muscle weakness in the mouth that may also affect breath control, causing slurred, nasal-sounding speech, altered volume, monotone speech, or effortful speech.
What communication strategies should NOT be used with someone who has communication difficulties?
Avoid interrupting the person or finishing their sentences, pretending you’ve understood when you haven’t, discussing the person with others without involving them, and reacting to swear words (which may be automatically produced).
What are signs of swallowing problems following stroke?
Coughing when eating, choking, moist/gurgly voice, change in breathing pattern, change of color, food residue in mouth, and drooling.
What are long-term effects of swallowing problems?
Weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition, recurrent chest infections, recurrent urinary tract infections, disinterest in food, and embarrassment eating in front of others.
What considerations can improve the eating experience for someone with swallowing difficulties?
Temperature (keep food/drinks warm), color (keep foods separate and use molds for pureed foods), information (tell the person what’s on their plate), appropriate thickening agents, modified textures, allowing plenty of time, medications in alternative forms, fortified diet, sensitive approach, proper equipment, good oral hygiene, and ensuring spectacles/dentures are in place.
Why is sitting upright important for someone with swallowing difficulties?
It helps prevent aspiration by keeping the airway protected and allows for better control when swallowing food and liquids.
Why are straws usually not recommended for people with swallowing issues?
Straws can cause liquid to be placed further back in the mouth and too much liquid can be sucked through at once, increasing the risk of aspiration.
What is aspiration and why is it dangerous?
Aspiration is when food or liquid enters the airway and may end up in the lungs. This can cause chest infections or breathing difficulties.
How can you balance ensuring safety while promoting independence after stroke?
By establishing the individual’s abilities, assessing risks for various tasks, providing appropriate assistance while encouraging self-care when safe, and regularly reassessing capabilities as recovery progresses.
Why is it important to set goals that the person wants or needs to achieve?
Because they are more likely to be active in their rehabilitation and achieve their goals if they are personally motivated.
How can you support someone with visual problems to read?
They may benefit from using a finger or book marker under the line of text to help keep their place on the page, and may need referral to an eye specialist for optical devices.
