This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities falls on Sunday 3 December. It is a valuable opportunity to focus on how to support, celebrate and work alongside a key section of society. According to estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions, there were approximately 16 million people in the UK living with a disability during the financial year 2012/22. This makes up 24% of the population – a sizeable percentage.
Cere homes providing services for residents with disabilities will normally have well-established services, sources of support and routines to help people remain as independent as possible. Care Vision’s care management software can help care home managers and staff with these aims in a number of different ways.
Healthcare and medical support
Many disabilities are complicated, or present with other co-morbidities. This can result in complex medication, therapy and healthcare requirements. Using Care Vision to monitor and track these can greatly enhancer carers’ abilities to stay on top of requirements and provide timely, accurate records and updates electronically. Medication can be recorded via eMAR, with changes in behaviour, mood and emotions also monitored digitally to build up a full picture. The data collected can also be invaluable if a resident needs to go to hospital for a planned appointment or in a medical emergency.
Safety and accessibility
Care homes need to be fully accessible for residents with disabilities, as well as safe and as free from obstacles as possible. Care Vision can help with the occupational therapy procurement and planning around these requirements. It can alert managers when safety audits are due, as well as servicing appointments for disability support equipment, fire alarms etc. Falls observation tools keep an eye on residents who might be more vulnerable to falling over and monitor how well a person who has fallen is recovering too. Data can also be shared digitally with all staff members and external specialists who are involved in a person’s care and recovery 24/7 to speed up vital communications.
Advocacy and awareness
Disability rights are gradually moving further up the political agenda as campaigners’ messages get through to key decision-makers, but more can always be done. If you, your staff or residents are keen to find out more, you can use Care Vision software to organise training, find and book workshops and invite speakers to come and talk to you about important related issues. This would be particularly relevant as we mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities – check out the website at https://idpwd.org for more information and resources around this important subject.
Personal care and grooming
Many care home residents who have disabilities require extra help in the mornings and evenings, as well as at mealtimes. The extent and type of support needed can vary massively. That is why Care Vision can be hugely helpful in recording exactly what help is required, and who is scheduled to give that help. Tools such as staff rota planning, mealtime planning, personal records and observational features all help ensure that residents with disabilities can be cared for any helped to maintain a suitable personal care routine for their preferences and needs.
Friends and family
People living in residential care often rely on contact and support from their friends and families. This can be particularly helpful for people with disabilities that prevent or reduce their ability to speak for themselves for whatever reason and make sure that their needs are being met. Care Vision has several tools to facilitate communications between care managers and friends and family, as well as an electronic visitors book to make sure that everyone knows who is on site and the resident they are visiting at any time.
Entertainment and outings
Care Vision’s planning tools can help care manager plan an enjoyable and engaging day trip, outing or activity that is accessible for everyone, whatever their disabilities. From staff rota tools to event planning features; risk assessment functions to budgeting software, the system can help organise every aspect of the entertainment. Keeping people’s minds active and stimulated can make all the difference between an enjoyable, beneficial experience in a care home – and something far less beneficial. Arts and crafts can tap into people’s creative sides, while fitness and physical activities helps keep the body fitter too.
