Have realistic expectations of the person’s ability.
Decrease distractions in the environment, especially when requiring the person to carry out a task or when trying to converse: switch off T.V., radio or other devices, go to a quiet room without other people, reduce the amount of ‘stuff’ in the vicinity etc.
Break tasks down into single, constituent parts.
Provide prompts, verbal or visual, as much as necessary.
Provide simple, clearly written instructions, breaking tasks down into simple achievable steps.
Provide information in small ‘bite sized’ pieces. Pause and check that the information is understood.
Repeat information as often as necessary.
Do not give information too quickly or expect tasks to be carried out quickly – allow the person the time they need.
Be calm and reassuring at all times.
Monitor for potential hazards in the environment that the person may fail to attend to e.g. oven/fire left on, trip hazards, traffic on the roads. Provide appropriate levels of supervision.
Ensure the environment is at an appropriate temperature; this may not be registered by the person with attentional impairment. They may fail to maintain a warm or cool enough environment. Additionally, they may not dress appropriately for the weather, leading to significant risk.
For people with impairments of tactile attention, be aware of the risks of pressure ulcers or other sources of pain/infection etc.
Please refer to a Clinical Neuropsychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist and/or Speech and Language Therapist who specialise in Neurorehabilitation for specialist assessment and advice.
