NEW FEATURE

 YOUR QUERIES and responses:

This could become a regular column, if there is sufficient interest. Please write to the Editor or pose a question to a Field Officer, who then may be in a position to send in me query and answer for publication. We shall adopt S.P. as me initials of "our special person with HD" and in that way confidentiality is observed.

 How can we communicate with S.P. who lives in a Private Hospital and who cannot speak, write or use a communication aid? We are unable to visit

Send postcards which S.P. can read or have the staff read out. Get the staff to place postcards on S.P's notice board. Make or buy a card for all special occasions and send it: Get staff to keep a scrap book or folder of all cards received so that they can be re-read. Write short letters as often as possible: get staff to keep in a Clear File for S.P's future reference. Send cuttings from magazines or local newspapers to add interest to S.P's mailbag. Send on the magazine you subscribe to or buy: Make a S.P name sticker and put it on with a message from the sender. Ensure that S.P has named and dated photographs in the room or in albums. Ensure that staff have a "This is Your Life" history or even make such a book for S.P. as this becomes a prop which allows staff and visitors talk about meaningful past life and present values.

 S.P. insists on driving the car when we think S.P. is at risk as a driver and should be off the road?

It is always such a personal and difficult time for families and particularly for S.P. who wants to retain this Kiwi form of independence. Each person will have individual circumstances and it is best that family seek advice and the opinion of others if S.P. does not want to relinquish driving.  If S.P. is an older driver, the driving policies and rules will apply: vision tests, medical and on-the-road practical according to age. This may suffice.

Family advice can be given gradually by getting S.P. to reduce driving risks ie: stop long distance driving; avoid driving in heavy traffic, avoid difficult driving routes, stop night driving, do not have passengers, turn off radio/music while driving, avoid school "rush" hour.

Family advice can suggest a date to stop, say in two months. Or could get person to hand in their license voluntarily before an accident happens: warn about car vs pedestrians as well as car vs motor vehicles.

For objective advice ask the doctor who follows the medical guidelines issued by LTSA - Land Transport & Safety Authority. A formal Driver Assessment may be needed to ascertain actual driver skills or problems.

If it is a desperate situation, anybody may unanimously contact LTSA and report S.P. as being unsafe to drive. So family has that line of recourse if needed.

 HERE'S A TIP:

  Strategies for coping with disorganisation

*                 maintain a daily planner ie: of the 24 hour day

*                rely on routines which are structured and repeated daily

*                 make lists to help organise tasks and activities

*                 make agendas for meetings and discussions

*                keep a diary and events, tasks and future appointments

*                offer prompting for each step of a task or activity

*                 assist with planning by limiting choices

*                 avoid open ended questions and keep instructions simple

*                try to get one task completed before starting another

*                turn off distracters eg: television, phone, radio talkback