Maintaining good physical health is important if the patient’s deterioration is to be slowed. Ensuring adequate nutrition and hydration, with vitamin minerals and iron supplements, if necessary, is important to the overall health of the patient, and allows the clinician or carer to make the best use of residual functions. Lishman (1987) advises directing particular attention to the lungs and urinary tract, where infections, especially in bed-rested patients, can be a considerable problem if not avoided or managed carefully early on.