I have just been explaining to a new OT on the block why mother needs a handrail for outside steps: mother's failing ability to judge risk is part of it. At first not seeming to get it at all, the OT then outlined how she had heard that people with dementia would rearrange their bookshelves out of alphabetical order. ???!!! No doubt some do; but this does not quite reflect the grasp of the condition I would like an OT to have. The OT is coming to do the preliminary assessment, so I've got what I wanted; but seriously? I know she's new, but… Would you say anything to her?
It didn't always work out that I could contribute to their understanding, but I tried when I could. The various visiting OT and PT who came were good at the therapy but didn't know anything about dementia. There visits were valuable, but a bit frustrating.
Let us know what you do and how it works.
PS You're right, of course, about their needing to assess patients/clients individually; but the other thing creeping in is that now, when the Community teams fill in their forms, they have to explain how the cost of the visit, adaptation or other recommendations can be justified: unless there's some sort of preventive value, the assistance for independent living may not be given. So: falls risk - no assistance given, patient fractures hip, patient costs NHS £xx,000; assistance given, patient safe and well, cost to NHS £x00 instead and everybody's happy. Hence the minor tussle about getting her to appreciate why the falls risk had increased with the dementia.
The thing is, they don't tell you that. So when they're dealing face to face with little old ladies who play down every symptom… see if you can guess what happens. Me, I just love The System!
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