Reablement, supporting recovery and return to normal life - Case Study

Reablement, supporting recovery and return to normal life

Customer Case Study

Optalis Short Term Assessment and Reablement team provide short-term care designed to help customers to regain and maintain independent living skills and to rebuild confidence following a fall or period of ill health.

Reablement Services provide support for a short time to help individuals recover and increase their independence or review ongoing care needs.

The Reablement team works with customers and their caregivers to help them progress and learn or re-learn the skills they need to live independently.

The support is provided by a multi-disciplinary team of people and lasts up to

six weeks. The team carry out an initial assessment and will discuss and identify realistic aims for people to work towards, They will also identify any equipment that would be suitable to support the person to maximise their independence.

Each step and achievement is closely monitored, with the individual at their pace to ensure that steady progress is made.

To ensure individuals receive the appropriate guidance and assistance, the reablement team is made up of experienced and fully trained staff, including support assistants, service leads, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.

This encouraging and progressive service aims to maximise each individual's independence and shorten customers' recovery time following a period of ill health or deterioration in wellbeing, as well as to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation or long-term care, which could impede their progress, quality of life and confidence. The following case study shows the service’s impact.

Mina received an individualised, responsive support programme that avoided long term care and allowed her to remain at home.

We support you to feel more confident and rebuild skills

You do things yourself with aids

When you’re ready you stop using aids

Mina was referred to the Reablement team following a serious fall and hospital stay. Her fall resulted in significant injuries including multiple fractures to her leg, she was discharged from hospital following surgery to her leg, a skin graft and a boot instead of a cast.

The team assessed her situation and came up with a six week plan to build Mina’s confidence and return to her previous levels of independence.

Equipment was installed around the house and Mina began to learn new ways to take care of herself.

She was encouraged to complete tasks on her own however was given support by the Reablement workers when needed.

Her support started with four visits daily by one Rehab assistant. Once she was settled in at home the physio visited on the second day, carried out an assessment, discussed her goals and provided her with exercises. The team worked at Mina’s own pace and at her first and fourth week reviews her exercises reviewed and changed in response to her progress and increasing mobility.

By the second week Mina was supported by the physiotherapist to look at getting in and out of the car so that she could go out with her family. She was also provided with a caddy and staff fitted this to her walking frame so that she could carry items independently around her home. (such as taking a cup of tea/book or magazine from the kitchen to the lounge).

The team also supported her to learn how to remove and put back on her boot every morning and evening.

The following week Mina was advised that she would still have to have her boot in place for a further six weeks, but she was now able to manage this without support.

Over the six weeks, Mina was able to reduce her support calls and began to take control of her life. She decided to install a stairlift to allow her access to the top floor of her home.

The physiotherapist ensured that she was comfortable and felt safe to use this independently. During her last week of support the Occupational Therapist carried out a shower assessment and ordered a shower chair. The OT will return to review its use when Mina’s leg heals, and she is able to access the shower.

She was discharged from the service able to manage all her personal care and meal preparation, even though Mina was still wearing her boot and recovering from her injuries, she was

able to self-manage this following tuition. Mina said Everyone is so cheerful, I’m going to miss them coming every day, thanks to you all

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