Reablement?

I remember this one. It caused so much confusion among the team as to what to do and how to go about it. For years we had toddled along 'providing homecare' very much with the attitude of doing as much as you could in a visit so that the service user didn't. After all, didn't they deserve to be pampered and looked after?

So, reablement....whats it all about?

' developing specialist home care re-ablement teams that worked intensively with new service users to increase their skills, confidence, and ability to live independently.-Social Policy and Research Unit'

As a carer you had to have a change of mindset as to how the service was delivered.Admittedly, it was hard to begin with to take a step back and not get towels ready, or have breakfast waiting on the table...would it be a role reversal and the carer saying, 'Come on Gertie get the kettle on, i'm parched!'

I loved it. There is so much satisfaction having encouraged someone to do as much as they are able to do. That is the key to getting it right and making it work.However, the rest of the team going in also have to be consistent with the progress. This can only be attained by reading the notes in each visit to see how things are going. Of course it doesn't help if all you see is 'made c.o.t, got breakfast, helped to dress'!

Who made the tea? Who got breakfast? What did they have? How much of getting dressed did the service user do on their own? The notes aren't about what you as a carer does....it is about how the service user is progressing.As a carer you need to know this information and the notes are the only contact you have between yourselves. It was so easy to be doing the first few days and getting a routine together and a real picture of ability. You have a day off and the next time you are in... you see that most tasks have been done for them. How frustrating this could be!

I hope things have changed. I hope that with each person the time is taken to continue to encourage.I hope communication between teams and officers or supervisors is acted upon. After all, its not about the paperwork and emails its about the service users....People.


'Individually, we are one drop.Together, we are an ocean.' - Ryunosuke Satoro






http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/index.html    SPRU Social policy research unit

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/carerscoffeep-21