Helping Hands: Looking back to an emotional rollercoaster by Lisa Watkiss

When I was 17 and studying for my A Levels  my then boyfriend Dave was involved in an accident where his car broke down on a Motorway on his way to visit friends in Bristol.  He was underneath the car at the side of the road trying to fix it when a lorry clipped the car and dragged him along underneath it for quite a distance before the driver realized what had happened.

During an initial period of paralysis he remained at Frenchay hospital in Bristol, but then when things started to look a little more hopeful he was transferred to the Spinal Injuries Unit at a specialist spinal hospital in Oswestry. He then spent the next 8 months bed-ridden on the same ward and I spent the time travelling to and from Oswestry failing my A levels.

For him those months involved lots of operations, physio and being prodded by all sorts of consultants and specialists.

For me and those close to him what was more noticeable was the change in his personality as a result of what had happened to him.

People not close to the person may see  the physical changes that have taken place, but those close see the  emotional changes too.  Being told you might not walk again is probably one of the hardest things to hear, and it can have a dramatic effect on the way you view life.

Dave became very frustrated and angry with everyone, including himself for what he’d allowed to happen.  Being so young I struggled to cope with his constant mood swings and his anger with everything and everyone and our relationship didn’t survive very long after he came home.

The story does have a happy ending though. Dave returned home from Oswestry and for some time set up a bedroom in his parents’ dining room. Through the dedication and support of carers visiting him at home and his physio’s persistence, Dave did regain his mobility and learnt to walk again.

Despite having several bits of metal in his body he has led a pretty normal life, but like the majority of those effected by such a traumatic experience his out look on life was changed dramatically as a result.

Helping Hands - Our first spinal injury customer in 1999 by CEO, Tim Lee

Back in 1989 Helping Hands was a traditional Home Care agency providing support mainly to the elderly members in our local communities. Over the years it became clear to us that some of our elderly customers wanted or needed full time support and the reassurance of having a live in carer with them most of the time.  They chose this rather than going into a residential home. They wanted to stay at home, maintain their independence and have the support and companionship of someone living with them.

As our confidence in providing our Live in Care service grew, we saw opportunities to facilitate younger adults, including those with Spinal Injuries, to retain their independence and live independently. Back in 1999 we started support for our first spinal injury customer and since then we have supported many more.  Some customers we have assisted through their rehabilitation programme, others we continue to provide long term care so that they are able to live independently, grow in confidence and maintain the lifestyle choices that they have made.  We support those with spinal injuries to further their studies at college or university, to continue with employment and to enjoy their chosen hobbies and activities.   Sometimes we help in the transition from being looked after by family carers, to living away from parents and having a carer live in.

As Helping Hands has grown, so has our knowledge in how best to support each customer in a way that truly meets their individual needs. Our carers are able to support both the physical and emotional needs of those living with spinal injuries and as our knowledge is continually enhanced, so is the training that we provide to those supporting our customers, so that we always provide the best care possible.

Helping Hands - A spinal injury carer

Elis Elbing, who has worked as a Helping Hands Live-in Carer since 2009, was previously selected to support a younger lady with a spinal cord injury level C4/C5 quadriplegia. A like-minded person thoroughly trained to deliver the lady’s complex care needs, Elis was the perfect choice, and it was a wonderful experience for both. 

“I supported a lady with a spinal cord injury for one and a half years,” Elis explains. “During that time, we established a very good relationship.”

Helping the lady to maintain a care routine that suited her lifestyle, Elis provided support with all activities of daily living.  As part of this, Elis received specialist training from Melanie Dawson to provide stoma and urostomy care for both bowel and bladder management. 

The lady was prone to periods of Autonomic Dysreflexia, a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that resulted in a dangerous increase in blood pressure. A specially trained Carer fully prepared to respond to the lady’s individual needs was therefore imperative. 

At the heart of the lady’s complex care needs, Elis offered support with her morning and night-time routine. In the mornings, Elis, under the lady’s direction, provided full support with her personal care routine. Alongside a second Carer, Elis helped the lady to transfer safely and comfortably using her ceiling track hoist. 

During the days, Elis and the lady enjoyed going out in her wheelchair accessible car. Elis says, “We enjoyed going out shopping, visiting coffee shops, and meeting up with her friends. We shared a lot of common interests, including academia.” 

Aware of the challenges faced by those living with spinal cord injuries, Elis provided care that enabled the lady to maintain her independence. Elis remarks, “I think that one of the main challenges faced by those living with spinal cord injuries is social exclusion.

I think that it is important to help people maintain the roles that they previously held before their injury and to adopt new roles in society. I would like to see more people with spinal cord injuries out in the community, particularly in the workplace.”

Providing support that respected her personal needs and desires, Elis’ care empowered the lady and ensured that the outcomes stipulated in her plan of support were achieved. Elis’ success was largely attributed to support from Melanie Dawson, her Care Manager, and Helping Hands’ award winning Training Team. 

Learn more about Spinal Injury Live-in Care from Helping Hands by visiting http://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/spinal-injury.aspx

For more information please call 0808 180 1553.

Watch Elis’ video here: http://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/spinal-injury-carer.aspx

Helping Hands - Making an enquiry about Live-in Care

Making the change to living with help can be a truly life-changing and understandably daunting experience. At Helping Hands we are committed to ensuring each spinal injury care journey is consistently professional.

During initial enquiries, Helping Hands’ Customer Liaison Team establishes how those living with spinal cord injuries are personally affected. Whether a spinal cord injury is caused by physical trauma or illness, each person is affected differently. Understanding the unique needs of each individual is integral to the provision of the person-centred care that Helping Hands provides.

Enquiring about Live-in Care

Sarah Burton, Helping Hands Customer Liaison Manager, explains, “When someone living with a spinal cord injury calls to make an enquiry about our services and arrange care, it is important to establish their individual circumstances.

In order to make the transition to Helping Hands home care as smooth as possible and determine the level of care required, we firstly have to ascertain whether the person has a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury. We can then establish the extent to which the injury affects aspects of daily living, what equipment the individual currently has in place, and how each individual manages with eating and drinking.”

Assessment

Before arranging a care assessment for somebody living with a spinal cord injury, liaising with Doctors, Occupational Therapists and other healthcare professionals involved in each person’s care is essential. Medical background reports are an important part of this process and are central to Helping Hands’ nursing-led services.

Sarah explains, “A medical report of how a spinal injury could affect someone’s health will allow us to implement specific procedures to ensure both customer and Carer safety. It is important to obtain this before meeting with customers to ensure we nominate the right Assessor to conduct the assessment. A misunderstanding of routines or equipment could prove dangerous to the customer or Carer.”

Spinal Cord Injury Expertise

Fundamental to the organisation of assessment and subsequent care packages is regular consultation with Helping Hands Senior Registered Nurse Specialist, Melanie Dawson. During every stage of the process, Melanie’s expertise in spinal cord injuries and complex care ensures that a professional nursing-led service is provided to all.

Acknowledging the importance of a flexible service designed around individual needs, Melanie says, “Helping Hands’ care assessments balance each customer’s bespoke care needs with their need for independence. We are especially innovative with moving and handling, understanding how important this is in promoting independent living.”

Carer Matching Process

Another important part of the care assessment phase for people living with spinal cord injuries is selecting an appropriate Carer. A carefully selected Carer ensures that Helping Hands’ commitment to exceptional person-centred care is upheld.

Photo caption: Mel Dawson, Helping Hands Registered Nurse

For more information please visit http://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/spinal-injury.aspx or call 0808 180 1553.