READ BEFORE 1st Training- Communication

By -
DRT 
My most basic form of communication is with my eyes- open for YES, closed for NO. My best way to communicate is when I am on my eye-gaze computer. But if I am not on my computer, and you need more than yes or no, use the SPELLBOARD.
 The colored side faces you. 
 Important! You only get 3 chances to guess what I need - after that get the spell board. Please don't waste time especially in the middle of the night guessing. 
During your counting with the numbers when I close my eyes it means you are on the wrong side. For example when you say 1 and I close my eyes go to number 5. 

The following are also some communication shortcuts using my lips and/or eyes-

LIP READING
  • Lips open and closed quickly = chapstick 
  • When I chew = that means suction please
  • When I feel pain, I will make an ugly face. 
  • There are a few words that you must learn that I try to do with my mouth. For example, off and up. These require serious lip reading.Unfortunately new people might think it's my suction face. Be aware.
  • When I close my mouth and point my nose up at you, that means wipe my nose with a tissue. Looks like a bunny nose.  
  • In bed when I look up and say up it means raise my head up by pushing the bed head up button. Looking up could also mean hair management. 
  • During the day when I look up and say up it usually means lean me all the way back because my bottom is hurting. After years in my wheelchair my poor bottom hurts during the day.
    EYE MOVEMENTS
    • My eyes are my pointer; follow them to determine what object needs attention. 
    • When I look quickly from center to the left = something to my left needs attention. Same way with right side. 
    • If I look straight up = turn off/on the fan or light. Also when I look at and look side to side that means: I don't know! 
    • If I am struggling with my eyes and can’t keep them open, get a tissue and rub each eye.
    SPELLBOARD SHORTHAND

    Letters
    Meaning
    Bal
    fill my trach balloon with syringe
    Bi
    bib, replace bib but wipe lips and chin with old bib
    Blow
    put the cardboard in front of peep  valve because it’s blowing in my face 
    Bo
    put foot on the box, ask which
    Bu
    burp or butt
    Ck
    check something (I will point with my eyes)
    Co
    cold or condom
    Cr
    cream on hands or my pain  back
    El
    Elbow management
    Fo  
    food or foot
    Foa
    my foot foam in bed needs adjustment 
    For  
    move body part forward (usually my head)
    Ho
    hot
    ip  
    iPod
    Ls 
    Lung suction please 
    Mag
    Magnesium oil to rub on my leg
    Mar
    Marsha Move
    Med
    Medicine
    Mo
    move or more
    P
    if I look at you with worried eyes this means I have to go pee in bed
    Pai
    pain somewhere and ask me if I need pain cream
    Pi
    Take picture or check PICC line
    Rad
    radio  please
    Re
    read or report
    Sc
    shower chair 
    Te

    tent, pull the bed sheet tight over the rails so legs don’t get trapped
    To  
    toes or towel
    Wet
    somewhere I am wet
    Wc  
    Wheelchair



    All this information is also printed in the 

    Don Taylor Users Manual 

    at the Caregivers Desk in HobbitHouse.

    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Read Before 1st Training- Personal Attendant (PA) Duties

    By -
    DRT  ON ARRIVAL TASKS Wash hands at start of visit. Greet Don. Water Management needed? Suction needed? Read the latest reports, cross off your name.  Read and follow the caregivers white board.  Check Current Calendar for your schedule, and update Draft of Next Months Calendar. Does posted Staff Chart have your most current phone number and address? Do you have all of the caregivers phone numbers in your cell  phone?  ROUTINE DUTIES DURING YOUR PA SHIFT- Feed Don food and "meds" (see menu chart in kitchen) Suction and/or burp as needed Assist Don with communication computer set up and use  Important, if Don is in his wheelchair and starts coughing out of control, do the following quickly:  Clamp burp tube  Put shoes on  Raise feet up all the way  Do mouth suction  Driving to doctors, errands, and for outings. Going on walks with Don. Help CNA with transfers, ROM, comfort breaks, and shower as needed....
    Read more

    TIPS for your 1st PA overnight shift alone

    By -
    Image
    DRT  A Must Read For New People  Very important, when I ring the bell immediately stop what you are doing and get the spell board because you could be hurting me or you are doing something wrong. Also you only get 3 chances guessing what I want after that get the spell board. It's easier than guessing all night. Lastly if you come in my room and I am coughing immediately clamp my burp tube! FEEDING- Always put a towel on my chest before feeding me. Hold both the feeding tube and the peg tube otherwise the feeding tube could pop off and make a mess.  Before taking off burp tube clamp it first and then turn dirty burp tube up side down before taking it completely off. That way the paper towel cork can catch any liquids.  Never put breakfast in the refrigerator after feeding me. Always use a clean tube in the morning before breakfast  Don’t forget my drop of hydroxo 12 before medicine in the morning. Don't clamp burp after you give me only medicine. Alw...
    Read more

    READ before 1st Training- Don's Diet

    By -
    DRT  The basis of Don’s Diet is to make everything with Bone Broth and only the best quality organic foods. 7am- BREAKFAST- large shaker 16 oz bone broth 2 Tb warm coconut oil 1 Tb Flax Seed Oil 1 Teas Liquid Multi Vitamins 1 raw chicken or duck Egg 20 grams (1 scoop) Whey 20 grams (1 scoop) Protein powder  2 capsules Butyrate Breakfast Supplements include-  Electrolytes  Probiotics  Herbal laxative  Vitamin B1 (50mg) and B12  Vitamin C (2000mg)  Vitamin D (2000 IU)  Rosemary  A-F Betafood- Vitamin A, B6, and Iodine  Plus prescription Baclofin, Rizuole and Metroprotol 10am- Snack- leftover breakfast     Add 2 scoops Fiber (psyllium husk) Noon- LUNCH- Blend (takes about ½ for lunch) 16 oz Bone Broth 2 Tb Flax Seed Oil 1 Tb Liquid Multi Vitamins 8 oz fish/chicken/meat 1 C cooked green leafy veggies  1/2 bunch Parsley 2 Tb Extra Virgin Oil Olive 2 Tb Lecithin 1 scoop Whe...
    Read more