Tag Archives: disability
Canine carer restores life and hope to disabled woman
TRACY Wells was once an active woman who lived life to the full. She played county rugby, jogged every morning and had an active social life.
But, two weeks after getting married and returning from her honeymoon she fell down some stairs into a cellar at the shop in which she worked as an assistant manager.
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PAWS FOR THOUGHT:Tracy Wells and her canine partner Sophie
She went to hospital and X-rays were taken which showed nothing more serious than a sprain.
Eight weeks later she still could not bear weight on her leg which was starting to go black.
It emerged she had broken her ankle and severed ligaments in her right foot.
Her leg was put in plaster for five months, but when the plaster came off she still could not bear weight so was given physiotherapy.
But, after 257 sessions of physiotherapy and 49 sessions of hydrotherapy it still it was not any better.
She went on to have bone and MRI scans that diagnosed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), for which there is no cure.
Tracy said: “My leg now sweats more, it gets swollen and is 2.5 degrees colder than my other leg. Because of the damaged ligament, it gives way frequently.
‘Please think carefully before shutting this excellent respite home with its lovely carers’
A CONSULTATION is taking place presently regarding the proposed closure of Ashlea Hostel, in Coronation Avenue, Alvaston. This building is currently used for respite care by more than 75 people with learning disabilities.
There are a large number of carers who are desperately worried about the possible loss of Ashlea and are especially anxious about losing the professional and highly dedicated staff who work there. We are aware that users of the service are to receive personal budgets but for many the facility provided at Ashlea is what they would choose for their short breaks. Most of those with severe learning disabilities do not accept change easily and would therefore find it difficult to adjust to a different service. Those with profound disabilities need a building-based service to cater for their very special needs.
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Emma Richards has profound and multiple disabilities and enjoys staying overnight at Ashlea Hostel, in Alvaston, left.
It is generally accepted that the Ashlea building has limitations as originally it was not designed for people requiring such high levels of support. However, inside it is always clean, fresh and well organised and the staff are friendly, welcoming, caring and helpful. There is a real homely atmosphere and Michelle Stevenson, the unit manager, and her staff have made some outstanding improvements.
You see they all have a real love for the job they do and this is what makes the difference. They really care about those who stay at Ashlea and this consistently shines through. The patience, kindness and level of care shown by the staff is clear for all to see. They have received training to a high standard and are very professional in their care of service users who present a diversity of learning and physical disabilities.
What next for the independent living fund?
The closure must be matched by a clear strategy detailing how devolving responsibility to local government would work
In the last days of the parliamentary term, amid the usual flurry of policy documents and statements, almost unnoticed the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issued a slim consultation document on the future of the independent living fund (ILF).
The writing has been on the wall for the ILF for some time. In June 2010 it announced it was closing to new applications for the rest of the financial year because of insufficient funding. In December of the same year the government confirmed the fund would be permanently closed to new users and funding for existing users would be maintained until the end of the current parliament in 2015.
