Understanding Behavior in HD.final.8-18-05 - Huntington's Disease ...

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A common, and normal, response to having HD is sadness, but this sadness can sometimes be a warning
sign of a more serious problem called depression. Often, when individuals become depressed, they also have
reduced concern and energy for other aspects of life.
COPING STRATEGIES FOR APATHY
• Do not interpret a lack of initiation or activity as “laziness.” Educate family members and friends about
the inability to “begin” or “initiate” behaviors and ask others to encourage participation in activities.
Gently guide behaviors but respect “no.”
• Use calendars and routines as suggested earlier (see pages 7, 19, 20).
ORGANIZATION
DEFINITION
Difficulties in planning, thought organization, sequencing, and prioritizing can affect attempts to follow a
recipe, to complete a list of household errands, to apply for social security benefits or to put on a dinner party.
These same organizational impairments affect problem solving and logical thinking (deductive reasoning).
When the brain cannot sequence bits of information, many aspects of intellectual, social and personality
functions are impaired.
EXAMPLES
Errands that used to be completed in two hours now take all day and even then may not be completely
done. Problems might include the following: the errands were not written down and some were accidently
skipped; they were not organized in a logical and efficient way, e.g., from closest to farthest from home;
necessary papers were overlooked and left behind, so a trip back home was needed.
COPING STRATEGIES FOR DISORGANIZATION:
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPAIRED PLANNING
• Make lists that help to organize the individual tasks in the order needed to do an activity.
• Prompt each step of an activity.
• Rely on routines that can be much easier for the HD-affected
person to initiate or continue without guidance.
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPAIRED DECISION-MAKING
• Offer some choices but not too many at once.
• Avoid power struggles.
• Avoid open-ended questions.
• Use short, simple sentences.