Wednesday 5 February 2014

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.


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