Health Services OT

[gila]

laracomps- afaik you can also get suction-cup grab rails which might work
xxg

[star gazer]

I think Boots (the chemist) do them online, they have started doing disability aids (they don't call it that tho, but I can't remember what it is referred to )they have started a whole range of stuff and you can use your boots advantage points to purchase and I think get points on your purchases.
have also seen them in the argos catalogue in their mobility section.
s g x

[Rosie]

Hi all

Just remember that the suction grab rails are not meant to take your weight, which rather defeats the idea of them as far as I am concerned. If yoou can't use them to pull on, what use are they?

Rosie

[krystal]

Hi Chloe had her appointment with her new OT Nicola today and wow what a difference, showed us lots different things to help her IE pencil grips, cutlery. And she measured Chloe for a wheelchair as her ME is getting worse as well as her hypermobility feel like im finally getting some were i feel.

[trekster]

Ive got my home OT assessment on Friday.

So far in my flat i have the following aids and adaptations;

1, perching stool, which i fall off and is painful to use sometimes.

2, handles so i can get in and out of the bath safely and a shower stool.

im asking for an assessment so support staff can push my wheelchair when im out.
im also going to ask for a stairlift to be installed in the block of flats which belong
to the council.

Could i ask them to refund a 3k wheelchair that im planning on buying (without the VAT)?

[teaspoon]

I'm feeling a bit confused about OT stuff. I saw one last year who gave me a bath bench (which is good but we have a screen door so the bathroom gets soaking whenever I shower) and recommended a one cup boiler and perching stool but couldn't fund them. This time she's ordered a loo frame, but said that social services OT would deal with rails and seating. I'm a bit confused as this seemingly random division of responsibility, and peeved because the SS waiting list is so long. Bah.

[Rosie]

Hi teaspoon

it is common for provision to be split in some way like this. The bath bench could be replaced by a different type that sits in the bath instead of resting on the lip of the bath, and this would mean the bath screen would work as it is meant to.

Rosie

[nemonie]

Trekster,

You need to ask for a referral to wheelchair services - you won't be able to ask for funding after you've bought a chair. You usually get a referral through your GP or a social worker. You want to ask for an active user manual chair - and specify that you need an individual assessment due to complex needs.

[trekster]

For those of you that have had home OT referrals....

how long between seeing the OT and getting the report did it take? I'm patiently waiting (have been on the list since November) for my OT
to write up what's happening about a) the floor to ceiling pole so I can properly get showered and b) the stair lift so I can decide whether to move.

I think the appointment was about a week ago, she said the report would be written up the following Monday but I still haven't heard. if she hasn't got
back to me by Tuesday should I chase it up?

UPDATE: The RAS (annoying computer program that's used to write up these reports) isn't flexible enough for my needs which caused the delay.

Both the report and the bed raisers have been put in my flat. No floor to ceiling pole yet but hopefully my motorbility car will be with me within
days so I can drive to my leisure centre and have a shower (and a swim) that way. Costs me £25 a month for unlimited swimming at my pool though.

In North Somerset you can self refer so if you cant get social services help the conventional way try getting an OT 1st (you might need to wait a bit)
and then convince them you need help in other areas. Mine has been putting pressure on my social services department (I have a care package under my ASD)
to get an emergency review. i hope this time the report wont have blank areas and will be social model disability based!

[trekster]

Can't get wheelchair services to assess me in my current housing situation, have no option but to buy a new wheelchair.
NAIDEX is next week and im now awaiting the manual handling assessment in my area.

[nemonie]

Huh weird, I can't remember wheelchair services in my area caring about what kind of property I lived in. Must have different rules for different areas. Stupid post code lottery

[sheppeyescapee]

It's the local wheelchair services. You have to need to use the chair all of the time indoors and out to qualify. The argument they use to get out of paying for a chair for someone who lives upstairs is how can they qualify under indoors and out if they are able to walk up the stairs and drag a wheelchair up it too I live on ground floor and only just qualified to get a chair, they almost denied me because at the time I was dragging myself around on crutches indoors and using a powerchair outdoors.

[star gazer]

when the OT came to my house to do my assessment he organised the things for the bath (board and rails) no shower stool as shower wasn't suitable which suited me as I have fallen stepping into he shower taking the door off! that was a classic stumble little damage to me (scraped arm) but destroyed the shower door. Bed lever to help me turn in bed and get out of bed (we are now looking at a ceiling or free standing hoist thing, cant think of the right word for now but its not where you put your whole body in a sling its where you hold something above you to try and move up the bed. also had stair rails etc (still cant manage stairs massive fall over xmas). When the OT was at the house he asked if I had been referred to wheelchair services and as I hadn't to ask my g.p to refer me. I was referred for a non active user transit chair because I was not to self propel. Wheel chair services spoke to me over the phone and suggested a self propelling wheelchair as it is easier for the person pushing. chair arrived quickly but was no good for my needs joint wise so they came to my house (after me going to the hospital where they are based) to measure up for a custom chair that has extra back support adjustable handles (husband very tall) and bits that stick out to support the leg when braces are being used and my legs can't bend at the knee.still waiting for my new wheels but looking foward to them arriving. It didnt matter about not using it indoors as they called my mobilation in the house cruising and the OT felt that it was important that if I could walk indoors using stick/crutches it would be better to try and keep the muscles stronger. I have a new OT now through adult services and she recently came out to to an access to house assessment but as my OH works full time we would be means tested, it worked out that the amount we would have to pay was so much that there is no way we can afford it. so OH is going to try and do some of the work himself but one of the things the ot recommended was a dropped kerb which the coucil have to do so we cant do that ourselves and that is the most expensive part.
my origional referral was a self referral as I had seen my g.p about struggling with certain things and had recently had a fall in the bath, he suggested an OT through adult services to come and to an assessment and that the policy here in Surrey is that the the client can self refer, I assume that at some point they must have contact with the g.p to gain more of a history and background although when the OT came to the house it was a very in depth assessment, lots of questions and copies of my med reports, after which she did go away and spent time researching EDS as did the lady at wheelchair services because when she canme back to the house she was talking about the fact that she hadn't realised how disabling it can be.
its good to know that the OT is at the other end of the phone and it is another source of support.

sg

[trekster]

I phoned up mine in a panic today (also self refer it might be nationwide) and her reaction is to get me
an emergency care needs assessment because the situation in my flat is so bad. Although they seem to
work for the same team the 6 month wait for me was worth it just to get my care reviewed. I'm now on
an emergency waiting list for a new social worker (my old one is medical model disability).

[shiny]

Does anybody have any experience of getting a private paediatric OT appointment in the South West? I would like to get an assessment / report done for my daughter but not sure where to start...

Many thanks