A. Client

(A book all about me)

Recent photo

December 2007

How to use … ’s book

This book should always remain accessible to … and should be carried in her bag at all times. At home it should be kept where … can find it easily, (not filed away). Very often personal / confidential information is omitted intentionally - the book is designed to be informal and non-confidential, containing only information that … would wish to share with new friends or carers.

When … meets new people or goes to new places, it would be helpful if her support workers could read it through with … several times on different occasions. This is a good structured way of ‘breaking the ice’.

In any setting where … spends time regularly. It is important that new staff read the book in this way too.

In situations where a person is moving, the book should also be used in this way, initially several times daily.

In the event that … should ever be admitted to hospital, it is vital that this book should accompany her - it is an invaluable tool, enabling nursing staff to get to get to know … quickly.

…’s book should be updated regularly. A good time to do this is at annual reviews and …’s carers can amend the information accordingly.

If found please telephone 01403 225104

(The Speech & Language Therapy Dept.)

Contents

· Important people to me

· Things I like

· Things I do for myself/ My strengths

· Things I don’t like

· Things you can do to help me work at my best

· Eating and drinking

· Health and medication

· Hygiene routines I am used to

· Communication hints and tips

· My feelings

Important people to me:

· My Mum – Mary Photo

· My Dad – Julian Photo

· My Sister – Emily Photo

· Dominic – my Brother Photo

Things I like: J

· Being sociable and in groups

especially in male company

· One of my favourite activities

is swimming

· Going to College or the Day

Centre to see my friends

· Chinese & Indian food

· Going to Drusillas

· Tea or coffee with 1 sugar

· Eating out

· Watching DVD’s

· Looking at my photos

· Going out

· Going for walks in my wheelchair

· Books

· People who make me laugh

· Riding my horse called Toffee

· Feeling warm

Things I do for myself

· I am able to say the names

of people who are familiar to me

· I can reach for things that I want. Please encourage me not to throw them onto the floor when I’ve finished with them

· I can choose by ‘eye pointing.’

Please give me my folder that offers a

choice of 8 activities that are important

to me

· I help to get myself dressed

and undressed but need lots of time

· Turn the pages of a book

· I can sit up unsupported

Things I don’t like L

· Changes in my environment

· I can get cross when Mum

talks to someone else and I don’t have

her attention

· Having my head or feet touched

· Ice cream and chilled drinks

· Any food or drink that is too hot

· Having my hair washed, brushed

or cut

· Feeling cold or tired

· Too many lights or too much noise

· Airports

· Supermarkets

· Staying in all day

· Not being told what’s happening

· being rushed

· Being ready to go out, then having

to wait!

Things you can do to help me

· Use short simple sentences

when talking to me

· Give me lots of praise when I do

things well

· I get anxious in new situations

and I can take several weeks to get to know and trust new people

· Please be careful what you put

in front of me as I may push them onto the floor

· You need to make sure my AFO’s

are fitted correctly. I can complete a standing transfer, or walk using my walker when I am wearing them. Please remove them during the day as my legs swell

· My socks need to be loose as I

tend to curl up inside.

· I suffer from very cold feet so

please remove my socks in the evening,

put my sheepskin slippers on for me and

sit me on the sofa or in an armchair.

· If my legs are swollen they

should be elevated

· A hoist is used to transfer me

into the bath or swimming pool

· If I get upset or over excited

I enjoy listening to peaceful music in

my room, look at books, photos or DVD’s

· I sleep best in a quiet, dark room

During the night I sit up and need to be laid down again and then covered up

Eating and drinking:

· I am allergic to oats!

· I have a good appetite and can eat most things except anything hard or chewy

· If you are assisting me at meal-

times please ensure that you follow the recommendations made by Anne Walker – Speech & Language Therapist

· I can feed myself finger food

but please encourage me to slow down if necessary

· I wear an apron when I am eating

and need support at mealtimes

· I use a spoon to eat with but

only small quantities at a time please

· I drink from a plastic cup

· Please ensure my food is not hot

· I like to have my tray on my

chair – but please make sure cups and plates are out of my reach as I may knock them onto the floor

· Sometimes I appear to refuse

my food. If I haven’t eaten much, try again later. TAKE YOUR TIME, and with patience I will eat it.

· Put your hand on mine to guide me with a cup and spoon

· When I want more I will guide your arm towards me

· When I am finished I will put my hand on your arm and gently push you away or I will turn my head away and refuse to open my mouth

· I love spicy foods

· My favourite meals include:

Fajitas, Enchiladas, Chilli Con Carne,

Curry, Chinese food, and Lasagne and Shepherds Pie

· I also love cake, custard and

chocolate

· I need to eat lots of fruit and

vegetables

· I also need to drink lots of

Cranberry juice to help stop me getting infections

· Please ensure all my drinks are lukewarm - Hot drinks must be cooled by adding cold water and cold drinks should warmed slightly by adding hot water.

My favourite drinks are:

· Lemonade

· Apple juice

· Tea and coffee – one sugar

· Drinking Chocolate

· Actimel

· Strawberry Nesquik

· Appletiser

I don’t like L

· Water

· Cold drinks with ice added!

Health and medication:

· I must take medication every

morning and evening to control my Epilepsy

· If I have a seizure lasting three

minutes or more I will need emergency

medication that is kept in my

wheelchair bag with instructions. If you

are not qualified to administer this,

please call 999

· If I have a seizure I feel very tired and sick afterwards and may have a headache, so I can have Paracetamol

· I always take my medicine with a

drink after my food (never in my food). Please tell me what it is and make sure I have swallowed my tablets, followed by another drink

· Sometimes I like to have a ‘lie in’ and

it’s ok to have my medication in bed. If

I wake early and I’m sitting up, lay me

down again & I’ll go back to sleep

· I can get excited when I wake up,

squeal and go into a spasm (not to be mistaken for a seizure)

· I often get a sore mouth and

tongue so oral hygiene is very important

and I should use a mouthwash regularly

· I suffer from tummy pains once

a month and take pain killers when necessary. I also take prescribed tablets for the first 14 days of the month

· If I’m tired or unwell I like a

short afternoon sleep on my bed or watch a DVD in my room

· I have Hay fever in May and

June and take tablets and eye drops to help

· Please make sure I drink plenty

of fluid – especially Cranberry juice, or take Cranberry capsules

· I am at risk from pressure sores

so please monitor my skin

· Please ensure that my legs are

elevated if my ankles become swollen

Hygiene routines I am used to:

· I need help with all my personal

care – slowly, gently and calmly

· I don’t like showers

· Every evening I like to have

a bath, I will tolerate having my hair

washed – but I don’t like it!

· Before I have my bath I like to

sit on the toilet for 5-10 minutes

· I like to have my pad changed

regularly. Please make sure my skin is dry as it sometimes becomes sore and I need cream

· I wear a medium Xtra pad during

the day

· And a medium Xtra Plus at night

· I like to wear deodorant as I can

get hot

· My teeth are cleaned after

breakfast and my hands are washed

· After my teeth are cleaned I

need lip balm applied as my lips can become sore and cracked. They can also bleed after a drink or in the sun

· I like late nights but this can

make me quite tired. Sometimes I sit

up in bed and need you to help me lie

down

· I sleep in a dark room with a

monitor. Please listen for breathing

changes which indicates I’m having a

seizure

Communication (hints and tips):

· Gain my attention by saying my

name, then wait until I look at you so you know I’m listening

· Speak to me using short, simple sentences. Give me plenty of time to respond and then repeat it if necessary

· Always talk to me at eye level &

direct questions to me – not my carer

· Please use symbols, pictures,

and photos to help me understand

· Use symbols on my board to help me make choices

· I can also make choices my looking

At or reaching for what I want

· I communicate through gesture, vocalisation, body language and behaviour

· I have a small communication

board containing 8 photos of my important choices. Help me to look at it then say “give me the picture”

· I also have a folder of my favourite

DVD’s to choose from

· I say ‘Yes’ by saying “Yeh” or responding happily to what has been said

· If I want what you have I will

use my voice

· I will also let you know if you are

wrong by protesting

· I say ‘No’ by ignoring the

question or protesting strongly

My Feelings:

· When I’m happy I smile and laugh

a lot. I make lots of arm movements, and occasionally flap my hands, be chatty and bounce around in my chair

· I’m happy when I’m with people

I love and friends – especially boys! I

like giving and receiving hugs and kisses

· Listening to music makes me

happy and I like being sung to

· I am happy when I’m out & about

· You can tell by my face if I’m sad Sometimes I cry or make a noise. I also

become very quiet, unresponsive,

refusing food and drink

· I’m sad when I feel lonely or bored

· Sad music or films make me sad

· I get upset if I’m not told about

changes to my day or I am not told what’s

happening

· I’m also sad when people don’t

understand what I want

· Please try and think about why I

I might be sad and try to remove the

cause or distract me.

· Try taking off my AFO, shoes

& socks and raise my legs

· Take me for a short walk

· Show me my red and navy photo

Album

· Put me to bed for a nap

· Is my mouth sore?(Thrush or ulcers)

My bottom lip can also get sore in

the sun and need Blisteze for relief

· Do I need a Paracetemol or

Nurofen?

· Do I need more fruit and veg?

·

· When I’m angry I will make loud

noises, shout and throw myself around

in my chair

· I get angry if I can’t go out when

I was expecting to

· And when people don’t tell me what

is happening or if I’m not asked what I want or where I would like to go

· I get frustrated if I don’t get

enough attention. If I’m frustrated with

a particular person I will try and turn

away from them

· When I’m angry or frustrated I might need time to relax and calm down or eat quietly, away from noisy crowded places

· When I get excited I rock my

wheelchair

· I get bored when I have to stay

inside or activities aren’t changed.

When I’m bored I will protest by moaning

or gesture to the door or wheelchair