Level 5

When someone is level 5, they:

• are alert and can pay attention to what’s going on around them
• have trouble focusing on the important parts of an event
• have lost a lot of their memory (which affects learning new things)
• get easily distracted and can’t focus their attention
• may seem to forget how to use things that they knew how to use before the injury
• will confuse the past and present
• may be able to follow simple, everyday conversations
• may be able to answer, “I’m fine, how are you?” but have trouble following deeper conversations
• may swear, even though they never did before
• depend on others to let them know when to do something
• may be able to do simple activities for self-care, but will still need some help

Level 6

When someone is level 6, they:

• mean to act a certain way
• can follow simple directions
• can follow a schedule with some support (but changes in their routine can confuse them)
• need some direction
• may have problems with memory that can lead to making mistakes and poor decisions
• may have true memories of most things before the injury
• can pay attention and concentrate better –They often know things like where they are, the time, and the date.
• may know their healthcare providers and staff
• may be very attached to family members and call them often
• get easily overwhelmed with too much information
• can’t plan or predict future events

How to help during levels 5 and 6

You can do the following things to help your loved one during levels 5 and 6:

• Be patient. Repeat information as much as they need to help them learn ways to remember things.
• Share information about family and friends. Show them photos to help them recall memories.
• If they laugh or cry easily when you wouldn’t expect them to, act like it didn’t happen. Distract them by suggesting another activity, or change the topic until they calm down.
• Help them with homework or assignments they get from their therapists. Encourage them to write in their journal, phone, or other electronic device.
• Give them step-by-step instructions for basic tasks. Over time, give them fewer instructions for basic tasks so they can begin doing more things on their own.
• Help them count money and make change. Ask them about the steps to make coffee or do laundry. You can then ask them to do the task they just described.
• Let every situation be a learning experience. But don’t try to push them to do too many things on their own too quickly. Everyday tasks will still be hard for them. ​