Hi Helen,

 

I have found the Young Epilepsy team great help. They can offer advice on individual cases.

 

www.youngepilepsy.org.uk

 

Helpline: 01342 831342 (Monday to Friday 9-1pm)

 

Thanks,

Emma.

 

 

 

You can get seizure alert monitors that you can purchase or get the student to sign up with Care Line or the equivalent in your area  (they provide the emergency pendants for people in their own home for emergencies, falls etc).  They would provide the monitor - it goes under the sheets on the bed, if the student has a seizure it would send an emergency message to whoever is the contact person.  OK if you have a hall tutor or friend who is happy to be called if not it could be sleeping support in room next door funded through LA but that may be difficult.  I wouldn't have thought a pull cord would be enough.

I also know people who have nocturnal seizures and have no support, mum hears him but what does she actually do when she goes in, sometimes the person may have been incontinent during the seizure and would just clean themselves up in the morning.  I think in the past we have padded a wall next to the bed, depending how severe you may want to consider padded bed rails but the student may not want to go along this route it may be mum.  Its being sure what mum actually does when she goes in and what he actually needs someone there all night for.  With some of the Care Line companies you can pay extra and they send one of their trained personnel out if the alarm went off and someone didn't have any family, that may be easier.

Sheila

 

Sheila Watts

Occupational Therapist

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 25 September 2015 at 14:22 Helen Shaw <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Afternoon all,

 

I have a student with nocturnal epilepsy, 2 -3 fits per night 3 -4 times per week. He currently lives at home with his Mum who is woken by his screams and comes in to his room to check all is ok etc. but he wants to know what support might be available for him to live independently in halls next year.

 

My thoughts have touched on whether he is aware of seizure coming on and could therefore pull an emergency cord if there was one fitted in the very early stages. Who that would then link up to for support is another question. Also whether he has contact his LA re funding for night support workers.

 

Needless to say this is a new one on me so any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

Many thanks,

 

Kind regards

 

Helen

 

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