Many patients diagnosed with COPD struggle with swallowing. This is frequently related to the coordination of respiration and swallowing. This handout outlines what COPD is and how it affects swallowing. It includes several strategies for patients to try that are aimed at improving this coordination and reducing signs/symptoms of dysphagia.
The IDDSI website provides a lot of helpful information for standardizing the testing of consistencies for solids and liquids; however, it can be overwhelming to locate all of the information needed for a full understanding. This resource provides all of the information required to understand each type of test, which test is appropriate for each level, and what the test should reveal in one easy-to-read chart. This can be used by dietary, nursing staff, speech-language pathologists, or other staff members or caregivers to determine if a person is being provided the correct recommended consistency.
Many patients and families struggle with the reality of the long-term changes in behavior and personality associated with brain injury. Includes descriptions of aggression, confabulation, emotional lability, lacking emotion, being put in unsafe situations, poor judgment, lack of initiation, disinhibition, agitation, and anxiety.
Caregivers are often overwhelmed by their loved ones’ illness or injury and all the new terminology that is thrown at them by healthcare staff. It is important to remember that they could benefit from education and resources to help reduce their burden of care. This material provides a list of resources for caregivers to help them transition to their new role more comfortably.
All caregivers need to take care of themselves. This means leaving loved ones in the care of other family, friends, or professionals. This caregiver management plan outline guides caregivers when creating a comprehensive written plan to pass on to alternative care providers. May be completed within a structured therapy session with clinical guidance or individually by patients and their families.
This handout explains how cardiovascular disease can cause functionally debilitating changes in cognition. These changes in cognition can negatively affect independence, productivity, and quality of life.
Reference table of cardiac medications for clinicians to use during chart reviews, provide patient education, and be aware of possible side effects during therapy process.
Many cognitive skills go into buying a car. This executive function activity will instruct a person to compare miles per gallon and other features of various vehicles to a wish list to determine which vehicle is the best fit to purchase.