I don't remember seing this topic on this group before, but I've just come
across another appalling scenario in the Community (UK, physical disability
team) and I'm curious to know how other therapists, Uk and World, deal with
this.
One of our team's clients is a man in his 30's who lives alone in an adapted
bungalow. He has cerebral palsy , is tall and heavy. In a hospital or
nursing home environment he would be hoisted for all transfers. If care
were being provided via social services, they would also be hoisting him for
all transfers. However, he pays for his own private care from an
independent living fund. Here are private carers who are risking injury to
themselves and their employer by manually handling him. Their employer is
certainly not insured and barely has enough money to pay his heating bills.
A tracking hoist is due to be supplied by the Adaptaions & Disability Unit
but has not yet appeared.
Once the hoist appears, the dilemma reduces, because at least there is a
safe alternative. In the meantime though, there is no safe alternative (not
enough space for a portable hoist) and these people continue to risk injury.
The organiser of the private care service could, in theorey, refuse to
manually handle - however in practice, this jeopardises his income in the
short term (even if it protects him in the longer term). ie there's a huge
disincentive for change.
This has happened before locally - and it usually relates to the most
vulnerable adults who are not necessarily sufficiently cognitively
well-endowed to ensure a responsible arrangement with their private carers.
There is apparently no requirement for private carers to be trained.
Thoughts from others ? Where might I most usefully shout about this to
effect a policy change ?
Frustratedly, ( just one of many complications this week)
Nikki Adams [log in to unmask]
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