Disability Action
- Disability Action
- Services Offered
- Service Data
- Meeting fundamental principles of good MS care
- Current / Future development
- Research
Disability Action was set up in 1990 as a research project: a "One-stop shop" to address all issues of living with long-term degenerative physical disabilities and caring.
Disability Action
Forest Dene Young Disabled Unit
Christchurch Hospital
Fairmile Road
CHRISTCHURCH
Dorset
BH23 2JX
Tel: 01202 705498
Fax: 01202 477914
A community service supporting people with physical disabilities aged between 16 and 64 and their carers.
Services offered
- Assessment/monitoring by specialist Nurse/OT;
- Care planning and co-ordination of services;
- Information resource, advice, education, "One call Help-line";
- Sign posting/referral to other services;
- Access to equipment;
- Assistance to obtain appropriate welfare benefits;
- Carer support.
Service Data
- Covers East Dorset (population 477,000+)
- Caseload 370+:- 50% diagnosis with MS;
- Approximately 85 new referrals annually for on-going support;
- Minimal, moderate and service disability.
Meeting fundamental principles of good MS care
- User Involvement: Multi-agency Steering Committee (includes Social Services, GP, Rehabilitation Consultant) has 50% service users and carers
- Holistic Approach: all issues of living with disability
- Accessibility: all assessments in clients' homes
- Equity: clients and carers have equal access to support and independent review
- Proactive monitoring: to avert crises through timely intervention
- Empowerment: information/education to enable clients to make informed choices
- Flexible service: eg frequency and timing of visits/contacts agreed with individuals
- Continuity of Care: named professionals
- Co-ordination between primary and secondary care
- Liaison with Social Services, Employment, Housing, Benefits Agency and voluntary agencies
Current / Future development
MS Nursing Funding from September 2000 is enabling the service to meet identified needs for MS clients:
- Ward liaison bringing together the community and in-patient services at Forest Dene
- Database of all people with MS in Dorset
- Removal of Disability Action's upper age limit for people with MS
- On-going one-to-one support for carers
- Support group for carers of people with MS
- Service user involvement in disability equality/awareness training
- In-patient satisfaction audit
- Development of care pathways with Neurology department
- Joint protocols with Social Services for assessment and provision of equipment
- Closer working with MS Society branch: including monthly "drop in clinic"
- Advocating for an independent advocacy service for people with a physical disability
All the above developments have already been achieved or are underway.
Research
Study to validate carer stress measure presented at the World Neurology Congress this June. Both Relatives Stress Score and Caregiver Strain index validated for use with carers of younger people with physical disabilities and MS.
Significantly raised anxiety levels identified among those caring for someone with cognitive impairment.