A client living alone struggled with getting around due to muscle and bone disorder and dealing with arthritis. She started to explore what options were available in terms of support and adaptations, and her Practice Nurse the GPs signposted her to Care & Repair.
After calling our Home Plus Team and talking them through her situation, a Support Worker contacted her to arrange a date for a home visit to carry out an assessment. When he and a colleague came round, they went through a set of questions regarding falls prevention and heating, to identify eligibility, and made a note of any financial benefits.
The Support Worker passed on energy saving advice and a referral was made to Age UK to apply for Attendance Allowance. They also took the time to observe how the client was struggling to move around in areas of the home, how they used the stairs and how they experienced difficulty with bathing.
The Solution
As a result of the home visit by C&R the following interventions were made:
The installation of grabrails by the front door which made the client more comfortable about going outside in the colder months when the steps could be frozen over
Bannister rails for the stairs and a newel rail which enabled them go up and down the stairs safely and turn onto the landing with ease and maintain balance.
A shower rail to get in and out of the shower with ease.
A rail on the wall next to the bath to help with standing and getting in and out.
A rail in the toilet to get on and off the toilet safely and independently
A referral was also made to Adult Social Care for a perching stool that would allow them to work in the kitchen, as they had difficulty standing for long
A referral was also made, with the client’s agreement, to the Care & Repair Building Services Team for an estimate for a wet room adaptation.
Afterwards the client told us:
“Everything seemed to fall into place as soon as the referral to Care & Repair was made. I began to receive phone calls… from the Home Plus support worker and then from Age UK and support from Adult Social Care.”
