Constant cuing is the rate of providing cues, which may be as frequent as every 10 seconds during a pivot transfer that may take a full minute or two to complete.
With one person giving cues every 10 seconds, they may sustain their attention for 30 minutes. The length of sustained attention may be different in different positions: in bed with a tray table, in a standing frame with or without hand-over-hand assistance, while seated in an armchair at a table, or while seated in a wheelchair with a lap tray.
Without an activity to do, the duration of standing and sitting is usually so short that it is hardly worth the effort taken to do the transfers. With an activity to do, you can expect to sustain attention for 30 minutes in a standing frame and 45 minutes with rest periods while seated.
The value of using the standing frame and doing seated activities is that sustained attention may reduce the number of attempts to standup during that time period and afterwards.
Reducing the risk of falls is the primary effect, but the secondary effect becomes apparent when standing frames and seated activities are not provided. Without these opportunities, time and energy is often invested in persistent yelling, night and day. The common method for stopping screaming and crying is over sedation with antipsychotic medications.
Recognizing screaming and crying as the secondary effect of nothing to do requires an awareness of the need to be in an upright position and to standup. Recognition of the failure to meet those needs requires professional attention to, and caregiver education about, the activities that the person with a cognitive disability can do.