Medequip’s team of Trusted Assessors play a vital role in supporting health and social care services. They use their knowledge and expertise to complement the work of other clinicians, assessing individual needs and proposing effective solutions to promote independence, safety and comfort.
Trusted Assessors can respond to referrals quickly, supporting hospital discharge or ‘low level’ needs where individuals may otherwise have to wait some time for a clinical assessment.
Enabling people to return safely to much-loved activities following health issues is a vital part of the work conducted around the country every day by the team.
This case study demonstrates how Trusted Assessor recommendations have helped one man to enjoy his garden safely again following a stroke, improving his quality of life and providing added reassurance for his next of kin.
Case Study:
Mr W is 75 years old and lives in his own home with two small companion dogs. Following a stroke last year, he has made a partial recovery of his left arm and leg function. He is mobile within the home using grab rails installed beside the stairs, and has achieved independence in personal care and light domestic activities following the introduction of assistive equipment around the home.
Mr W is supported by his daughter, who lives three miles away with her young family. She helps him with heavier housework and shopping. A keen gardener prior to his stroke, Mr W now employs a gardener to keep the grass cut and tidy the flower beds. He has a potting shed and enjoys propagating plants.
The issues facing Mr W and his family
As part of his recovery in recent months, Mr W had been attempting to gain access to his garden to be with his dogs when they exercise as well as put out small amounts of laundry to dry. He is only able to go out into the wide community when his daughter takes him out in her car, and expressed his increasing frustration at being ‘housebound’.
On several occasions Mr W has stumbled and fallen when negotiating the 34cm threshold step at his back door into the garden. He has been unable to get up and has had to call emergency services, resulting in visits to A&E. This has increased his frustration and caused his daughter to be anxious and over-protective.
The solutions
Working together with Mr W and his daughter, Medequip’s Trusted Assessor visited the property to identify the issues and propose effective solutions.
Looking in detail at negotiating front and rear access to the property, the Trusted Assessor noted that Mr W had nothing to hold onto securely to assist his stability whilst climbing and descending the threshold step, which was a significant drop down.
The Trusted Assessor recommended and fitted a metal half step complete with handles on both sides, enabling his stronger right hand and arm to be used when going in and out via the step and reducing the drop.
In addition, the Assessor recommended and fitted a short vertical grab rail on the wall beside the back door frame (right-hand side ascending) to enable Mr W to steady and pull himself up the step. The Trusted Assessor also recommended fitting a vertical grabrail on the right-hand side of the front door, which meant Mr W no longer needed to pull on the door frame at the front access.
Mr W also decided he would like an additional perching stool for use in his potting shed. The Assessor guided him to the Manage At Home website where an appropriate perching stool could be purchased, and also explained it would need to be adjusted to the height of the perching stool already installed in his kitchen.
Outcomes
Using input and advice from the Trusted Assessor, Mr W and his daughter report that he is now able to access his garden safely using the equipment installed, to complete light domestic activities, be outdoor with his dogs and take part in garden leisure activities.
He is now stronger and more stable when walking, and has expressed how happy it has made him to get out independently. This means he can continue to live independently is his chosen environment together with his dogs.
In addition, his daughter is now reassured that he is safer when on his own and is less anxious about his wellbeing.