Things to Think About

1
Things to Think About updated Sept 2010
Smoking Alcohol
Do you smoke? How many cigarettes do you smoke a
day? Do you know why you smoke? Do you want
to stop smoking? Do you need any support to
help you stop smoking? Do you drink alcohol?
How much do you drink? If you regularly take
medication, do you know if it is safe to drink
alcohol? Do you want to cut down on how much
alcohol you drink?
2
Looking after my Weight
Do you know how tall you are?   Do you know what
you weigh? Do you weigh the right amount for
your height and age? Have you lost or gained
weight recently? What things do you do to make
sure you stay the right weight? Do you need any
support to help you to loose weight?
Healthy Eating and Drinking

• What sort of food do you eat? Are you eating well
  a healthy balanced diet?
• Do you eat 5 pieces of fruit and vegetables a
  day?
• Do you grill or steam your food instead of
  frying?
• How much fluid do you drink each day, such as
  water or sugar free juice or squash?
• What are you going to do to make sure you eat
  healthy food and drink the right amounts of
  fluid?
• Do you have problems with eating or swallowing?
• Do you have a safe eating and drinking plan?
• What help do you need during mealtimes?
• If you have problems with eating drinking, you
  can contact the Learning Disability Service, who
  will assess your needs..

3
Exercise Mobility

• What sort of exercise do you like to do?
•  
• Do you do 30 minutes of exercise or physical
  activity each day?
• Do you want to do more exercise?
• For improved health, activity should be increased
  gradually to 30 minutes of moderate intensity for
  5-7 days of the week.
• The 30 minutes can be broken down into 10 15
  minute sessions per day.
• Do you have difficulty moving parts of your body?
•  
• Do you need things to help you move around like a
  walking stick, frame or a wheel chair?
•  
• What help do you need to move around?
• Do you have help from a physiotherapist?

• Are you able to move around on your own?
• Do you use specialist seating?
• Do you need specialist positioning at night?
• Do you use a sleep system?
• What help do you need to make sure you are in a
  comfortable position 24 hours a day?

Postural Care
4
Special Health Needs medication
Do you have any special health needs that you
already know about like epilepsy, asthma,
diabetes or high blood pressure? Do you take any
medication for your special health need? What do
you do to look after your medication and your
special health needs ? Do you want to know more
about your special health needs and the
medication that you take? Has your doctor told
you about the side effects of the medication that
you take? What help do you need to look after
your special health needs and to take your
medication? Would you like to be more
independent in taking your medication and looking
after your special health need? Have you had a
recent check up at your doctors for your special
health need and your medication?
Feelings and Mood
Are there things that often make you feel sad,
scared, worried or angry? Has anything changed
the way you feel i.e. someone dying or moving
house? What things do you do to stay happy and
well? What things upset you? What support do
you need to stay happy and well? Are you on Care
Programme Approach? Your health action plan can
be part of your CPA.
5
Feet and toenails

• Do you have any problems with your feet or
  toenails such as fungal infections?
•  
• What things do you do to look after your feet and
  toenails?
• What help do you need to look after your feet or
  toe nails?
• Do you get any pain in your feet?
• What things do you do to reduce the pain in your
  feet?
• Residential home staff can only file toenails
  following training from a chiropodist. Contact
  your community hospital chiropody department to
  arrange training.

6
Well Women
Do you know how to check your breasts for lumps
or changes? Have you had your breasts screened
in the last 3 years (If you are between 47-74
years old)? Do you want to know more about
checking your breasts? Do you want to know more
about breast screening? Have you had a smear
test in the last 3 years (If you are aged between
24-64 years old)? Do you want to know more about
having a cervical screen (smear test)? Do you
have regular periods? Do you need any help when
you are on your period? How do you keep yourself
clean and tidy? Do you have any close
relationships? Do you understand about safe sex?
Well Man
Do you check your testicles (balls) for lumps or
changes? Do you want to know more about
checking your own testicles (balls)? How do you
keep yourself clean and tidy? Do you have any
close relationships? Do you understand about
safe sex?
7
Bowels and Bladder
Do you have problems going to the toilet? Do you
suffer from any pain or any other problems when
going to the toilet? What help do you need to
go to the toilet? If you are aged 60-69 have you
received a Bowel Cancer Screening Kit? Did you
use it and send it back? Do you need to know
more about bowel screening?
Pain
How do the people that support you know if you
are in pain or not? How do you tell people when
you are in pain? How do you tell people if you
feel unwell?
Sleep
Do you sleep well at night? What helps you to
sleep well at night? Do you sleep during the day?
Death Dying
Would you like to talk to someone about death and
dying?