What is Cognitive Impairment / Delay?
Cognitive skills cover 3 basic areas: Focusing, Remembering and Problem Solving. Someone who has a cognitive impairment can have trouble with one or more of these areas. It is also important to remember people who suffer from this disease are affected to varying degrees. Some people require small modifications to life, while others may need 24 hr supervision. The added kicker is that even for the same person the severity of the disease can not only change over time but can even change day to day.
Common issues:
- Being impulsive
- Repetitive questions
- Lack of motivation
- Memory problems
- Poor judgment
Simple Hacks:
Repetitive questions:
Have answers posted in a consistent place at home. For example, when my brother had an appointment, he would constantly keep asking us if it was time to leave. To be honest, after a while it became really annoying. One thing that we tried was to post physical calendars with appointments written on them, on the wall next to a clock . Whenever he asked about an appointment we would just say check the calendar. It was weird, for us it was far more manageable to say check calendar than it was to have to re-explain that it was not time for the appointment. The strategy was as important for us as it was for him.
Memory Issues:
Having visual cues or alarms to prompt regular chores. This works really well for small stuff like taking out the garbage or having a shower or taking medication. Program alarms on your phone with small descriptions can help with remembering.
Communication:
Firstly keep it short. When trying to explain something or motivate a person with a cognitive delay long speeches are not your friend. I used to make this mistake all the time. I would sit with my brother, have the big long lecture with him and by the halfway point he would have stopped listening. This sucked for both of us. He wouldn’t understand and I would be pissed he stopped listening to me.
Second keep it simple. Don’t use compound sentences. For example, instead of saying “Hey bro, if you have a minute can you throw out the garbage in the kitchen” try breaking it up. Ask “are you busy?” let them respond. If they say they are free then ask them to come to the kitchen. Once they arrive then ask “please throw out the garbage”. It is subtle, but by breaking it up you allow them to focus on one thing at a time.
Health:
Keep a good exercise, diet and sleep schedule. Honestly this usually the first thing that gets dropped. I cannot stress how important this is to good life. Your brain is part of your body. If you have a well rested body, that is fueled up with the right food, you are going to be on the top of your game. Having a cognitive disability is like running a marathon with weights on your arms. Choosing to not take care of your body is like adding leg weights on top of that. Don’t make the situation harder than it needs to be.