Even though our patients don’t “get better”, they DO have rehab goals.  These would be your goals that are listed in the funding report—if funding was pursued. The basic idea is that having a device or access to technology would allow patients to participate in daily living activities, initiate, respond, request, etc…. and improve overall quality of life. This quality of life could be different for everyone.  This could be discussed prior to device loan, or funding or whatever—what are your goals in obtaining a device—what are your expectations???? 

 

Goals from the funding report could be things like: 

 

 

·         Demonstrate independence in the set-up, use, programming and maintenance of the SGD with 100% accuracy within 4 weeks.

·         Demonstrate independent ability to communicate basic needs/make requests to caregivers via selection of preprogrammed messages on recommended SGD with 100% accuracy within 2 weeks.

·         Demonstrate independent ability to spell message and use of rate enhancement features to communicate basic needs on recommended SGD with 100% accuracy within 2 weeks.

·         Demonstrate independent initiation of social greetings, offer information, and ask questions, etc. through use of recommended SGD during 1:1 and small group interactions with 100% accuracy within 4 weeks.

 

Of course, these can be broken down into more specific goals…..

 

Questions you could ask caregivers in a survey would be:

 

1. did the device allow my (spouse/parent/pALS) to indicate discomfort? 
2. did the device allow my (                              ) to indicate basic needs, i.e., hunger, pain, elimination, emotions, etc.)
3. was the device easy for my (                         ) of the caregiver to program?
4. was the device easy to integrate into daily routines?

 

Etc…..

 

Does this help?