Caregiver changes spell inconvenience for disabled

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Caregiver changes spell inconvenience for disabled

3News NZ

Harry Devereux has an intellectual disability and is fighting cancer and is forced to take the bus to the hopital now

Harry Devereux has an intellectual disability and is fighting cancer and is forced to take the bus to the hopital now

Changes to the way a community support trust in Hamilton implements a Ministry of Health contract mean that caregivers are no longer allowed to drive clients around in their cars.

It is supposed to be about fostering independence, but for those affected it's a devastating change to their routine.

Watch the video to see Natasha Utting’s report.

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Comments

9/02/2013 11:43:09 p.m.

Ben wrote:

do these organisations still get goverment funding, if so where do they spend it

24/08/2012 12:11:08 p.m.

Mary Butler wrote:

This program raises a number of issues about access for people with disability and how health professionals (including occupational therapists) may be able to frame the issues. New Zealand is largely rural and this means that there are serious issues around being able to get public transport. Access is about much wider issues than getting a bus - it is about the capability that matches opportunity to do something, with the ability of the person to do that thing. Therefore if people use their limited resources on catching a bus (cognitive capacity; physical tolerance etc) they may not have enough resources remaining to be able to do what they were going to do. Access to the community is an issue that the disability community has fought long hard to achieve.

22/08/2012 1:12:18 p.m.

joanna wrote:

ideology gone to seed that's all . their brains have gone to seed stupid academics.they would no know common sense if they fell over it .

22/08/2012 10:02:59 a.m.

Bruce wrote:

@Quentin Todd, The so mentioned vehicle ownership in the video clip is a "bone of contention" for me, as any "trust" or agency operating in any geographic area can have anything up to 150-300 community support workers working in that area. The funding from MOH for every individual client in $75 per client, per hour. Out of that funding the support workers wages per hour, coordinator and manager wages and salary also has to come out of that $75. I doubt any "trust" or agency can afford to give every support worker a "company car". I believe that comment in the video clip to be a misunderstanding.

21/08/2012 6:47:07 p.m.

Quentin Todd wrote:

Bruce: The Trust that Harry is with, has cars that are owned by the Trust - they are NOT private vehicles.

21/08/2012 3:12:41 p.m.

S wrote:

Unless Caregivers or their Employers have insurance to cover ACC or accident insurance, they then may not want to take the risk of driving their clients - these days you have to have insurance and ACC cover for everything.

21/08/2012 1:10:51 p.m.

James wrote:

It's about a continuum. I am a support worker as well, and for the organization I work for, it's about -maximising- independence. The problem here is if Support Workers are not allowed to drive to the supermarket with clients, the client is more likely to be judged 'unable to do their own shopping' and be placed in a residential facility. Bruce has a good point, in that we can't expect Support workers to shoulder the liability. We don't know the specific situation there, but supplying a way for Clients to be supported in transport to the supermarket etc should be available if it is needed.

21/08/2012 11:54:42 a.m.

Bruce wrote:

I don't know what all the fuss is about. I am a Community Support Worker, though not for the same agency depicted in the video. It has NEVER been policy to take clients on shopping trips. The job is about supporting the client in their own home. Not about supporting them around town. The cars mentioned are privately registered vehicles. not commercial registered vehicles. Our job is NOT to substitute family responsibilities. Surely MR Devereux has family members or friends who can take him shopping? according to the video MR. Devereoux is quite capable to walking to the bus stop or hiring a taxi. You will alwasy find support workers who are willing to take clients in their own cars, But, If a mishap occurs with the client, we support workers are not eligible to ACC or insurance for the mishap, because, We are NOT supposed to be a taxi service for these clients. That is taking their independence away and making them dependent on us.

21/08/2012 10:14:50 a.m.

Moera wrote:

Always take advantage of the disadvantaged NZders and ignore the real issues. Good on ya Key....NOT!!

21/08/2012 9:00:23 a.m.

stinks wrote:

It's always the same - it's about $$$, not people, which results in the load going on those who are least able to cope or fight back. It's a key strategy of this govt and its paid toadies. They will just be hoping that these poor souls give up entirely and kick the bucket as that would be even cheaper.