Story from The Asssistive Technology Committee of OT Australia.
This lady is in a very standard heavy wheelchair of a type often used in nursing homes.
Aged Care Facilities and community based “package” services have guidelines that include provision of AT, but this is often not the case. AT which is necessary for enabling activity and participation is often either not provided, or a diminished version of the guidelines is implemented.
For example, it is expected that Aged Care Residential facilities provide “standard” items of AT. “Custom” items are supposed to be provided by other programs. It is commonplace to hear of nursing home residents who cannot access an appropriate wheelchair to maintain their ability, especially when they require a lever drive wheelchair due to a past stroke, or a wheelchair suitable for an amputee. Nursing Homes can maintain that this is a “custom” item and that they therefore do not have to provide it. The relevant disability AT provider will maintain that it is not a custom item, and/or that a nursing home resident is a low priority. In the middle is the aged care resident who becomes isolated in their bedroom, dependent on a staff member to wheel them to the shower or dining room. The impact on activity, participation, quality of life and life expectancy is enormous.
- Asssistive Technology Committee of OT Australia.
Photo credit to Kaye – thank you.
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