Huntington's Disease: Tips for Coping

Some of the suggestions I have for living with HD are:

Keep life simple - Rest, Exercise, Nutrition, A daily laugh Carry earplugs with you when you are out (Some people with HD are sensitive to noise)

Carry calendars with you to write down everything you must do for the day and any information you get from other people

Develop a message centre in your home, so other family members have an idea where to look for stuff

Use an answering machine so you can rewind the tape and recheck those messages (One of the symptoms of HD is transposing numbers)
 
Use sticky 3M note pads to keep your place in cookbooks - also works in crochet or knitting patterns

Use one color of paper for phone messages Have a check-list on the front door so you can make sure you have keys, etc.

Rewrite recipes so they have a numbering system (1. Cut vegetables, 2. Spray pan, etc.)

Try to do the same task on the same day of each week (Wash on Tuesday, etc.)
Get a watch with an alarm clock and set the alarm to remind you to catch bus, leave for doctor's appointment, etc.

Listen to relaxing music
 

Reprinted by permission of Heather Pratt who has Huntington's Disease, www.lib.uchicago.edu/~rd13/hd/living2.html

Printable Version