Category Archives: epilepsy

Who will care for the disabled in years to come?

Who will care for the disabled in years to come?

Sunday 7 April 2013

 

WHO really cares about the future of our children and young adults who have profound learning disabilities as a consequence of severe epilepsy?

In Scotland, there are approximately 1,000 children and young adults under the age of 25 whose cognitive abilities are limited by the early onset of complex epilepsy in infancy. Most of these young people will have lifelong learning disabilities that will prevent them ever living independently, requiring round- the-clock care for the rest of their lives.

In childhood, naturally parents to want to care for their child with epilepsy. But as the complexities of the condition emerge and the damage of those early life seizures take their toll, parents begin to struggle. The family life they had hoped to enjoy as they raise their child (or children) slowly slips away from them.

Carers looking after someone with epilepsy often neglect their own health

Carers need help

Figures show that more than one million people spend 50 hours a week providing unpaid care according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Of the 5.8 million who look after family members and friends, 1.4 million people provide more than 50 hours a week of free care.

A survey carried out by Epilepsy Society in 2011 showed that carers looking after someone with epilepsy often neglect their own health needs to care for a loved one.
The unpredictability of the condition and the fact that the need for care can change over time all contribute to the physical, mental and emotional stress of caring for someone with the UK’s most common serious neurological condition.

Met officers face judge over mentally disabled case

Severely autistic and epileptic 16 year old

Simon Israel Home Affairs Correspondent

Seven police officers are due to face a senior judge over their handling of a severely autistic child, which lawyers say could have major implications for the rights of the mentally disabled.

Last year the Metropolitan Police was found to have assaulted, restrained, falsely imprisoned and discriminated against a severely autistic and epileptic 16 year old and ordered to pay £30,000 damages.