"First Shift With A Person With HD"

Laurel Lakes Center
620 Laurel St.
Lee, MA 01238

Jim Pollard put together this brochure in 2001 called "First Shift With A
Person With Huntington's Disease" that provides a first look at some of the principals of care for a pHD.

I received a copy of this brochure and it is EXCELLENT!! What
a godsend that would have been at home for me just to give the
multitude of different CNA's we had on almost a daily basis for
2 years!! It would have saved me about an hour of explanation
with each one who came to watch Kelly!!!

This brochure is designed for CNA's in nursing homes but is a valuable
resource if you have any one coming to your home to help care for a pHD. It can save you a LOT of time in explaining the "basics" when someone new shows up, and you can devote your time to the specific, important things your pHD needs.

It covers

    Your First Shift - describing HD briefly and outlines info.

    What Is HD - give brief overview what HD is

    Beware of The Risk of Choking-describes patience needed with
    feeding and how some pHD needs to be watched closely

    Help Increase Calories - describes the importance of maintaining
    weight in HD and a CNA help towards that goal.

    Prevent Falls - describes how close attention needs to be paid
    to a pHD falling.

    Difficulty Waiting - describes impulse control difficulty and
   how this should be addressed so as not to upset the pHD.

    Expect Repetitive Insistence - discussing questions being asked
    over and over and the patience needed to handle them.

    See Through "The Disguise" - describes how to see the real
    person through possible lack of attention or looks of boredom.

    "Big Bursts of Movement" - describes how the more advanced
    stages in HD the pHD's often have difficulty controlling voice
    and movements, help with bathing, etc. and how the CNA needs
    to be aware of these.

    "Importance of Routine"- self explanatory......how important
    schedules are to a pHD.

    About Smoking - Discusses how to help the pHD meet their
    need to smoke.

    Importance of Dental Care - discusses how chorea can make
    this a difficult self-care task and how the CNA should take
    extra effort to care for their teeth.

All of this on one, tri-folded, page!!!

Jim would be glad to send a brochure to anyone wanting one. Please email him at above email address.