by Simon HengLast year, my 76-year-old mother was failing. She could barely walk; she was having difficulty in looking after herself physically, and was becoming confused. She certainly couldn't drive.
In April of this year, she had a triple heart bypass. For a few weeks, she was extremely ill, and we worried - she worried, most of all - that she would never be independent again. When she left hospital, she went to a rehabilitation unit for older people, a joint venture between the primary care trust and the local authority.
Four weeks later, after intensive therapy and some confidence building, she was back at home - the only adaptations she needed were a few grab rails. Two weeks after that, with some ongoing exercise classes at the local hospital, she was driving again. She's even talking about going to visit her grandchildren in Australia.
Last week, my electrically controlled bed broke, and, at the same time, my pressure-relieving mattress was failing, leaving me prone to pressure sores. I made a phone call to the local equipment loan store - again, a joint venture between health and adult social services - and I was sleeping on a new mattress, on a new bed, within 24 hours, rather than having to go into hospital to have pressure sores treated.
Independence the key goal
For all the column inches of commentary surrounding the adult green paper, Shaping The Future Of Care Together, maintaining our active health, and through that, our independence, is one of the most important goals for older and disabled people. My mother and I are living proof that the attitudes, skills and resources are already there, and can help many more given the political will at national and local levels.
Maintaining independence should be one of the guiding principles for the proposed National Care Service: I can't imagine that many people set out to be looked after in a care home when they retire, or become disabled. This would cost less, too, for the state and for the individual, in the long run.
The lady isn't for turning towards a care home
To be brutally honest, it will only be cheaper and more convenient to look after people who can't maintain their independence in care homes (of course, anyone can be looked after in their own home at a cost - you don't imagine that Baroness Thatcher will be going into a care home any time soon?). And the three proposed methods of paying for this are the least politically damaging ones that a focus group could come up with.
But, 12 years after Tony Blair told us that the adult care system was inadequate, unfair and likely to get worse, we are presented with a document which is less than bold and visionary, with too little time before the end of this Parliament to turn it into a Bill which will emancipate those who could appreciate it, and give comfort and security to those who need it.
Simon Heng is a wheelchair user. He is active in the disability movement
Last week, my electrically controlled bed broke, and, at the same time, my pressure-relieving mattress was failing, leaving me prone to pressure sores. I made a phone call to the local equipment loan store - again, a joint venture between health and adult social services - and I was sleeping on a new mattress, on a new bed, within 24 hours, rather than having to go into hospital to have pressure sores treated.
Independence the key goal
For all the column inches of commentary surrounding the adult green paper, Shaping The Future Of Care Together, maintaining our active health, and through that, our independence, is one of the most important goals for older and disabled people. My mother and I are living proof that the attitudes, skills and resources are already there, and can help many more given the political will at national and local levels.
Maintaining independence should be one of the guiding principles for the proposed National Care Service: I can't imagine that many people set out to be looked after in a care home when they retire, or become disabled. This would cost less, too, for the state and for the individual, in the long run.
The lady isn't for turning towards a care home
To be brutally honest, it will only be cheaper and more convenient to look after people who can't maintain their independence in care homes (of course, anyone can be looked after in their own home at a cost - you don't imagine that Baroness Thatcher will be going into a care home any time soon?). And the three proposed methods of paying for this are the least politically damaging ones that a focus group could come up with.
But, 12 years after Tony Blair told us that the adult care system was inadequate, unfair and likely to get worse, we are presented with a document which is less than bold and visionary, with too little time before the end of this Parliament to turn it into a Bill which will emancipate those who could appreciate it, and give comfort and security to those who need it.
Simon Heng is a wheelchair user. He is active in the disability movement
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