Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
Independence pays: a cost and resource analysis of direct payments in two local authorities
- Authors:
- STAINTON Tim, BOYCE Steve, PHILLIPS Ceri J.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 24(2), March 2009, pp.161-172.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Although there is an increasing amount of literature on direct payments (DP), to date there have been few studies which have examined in any detail the costs and resources associated with them. This paper presents findings from a two year study conducted in two Welsh local authorities that jointly fund an Independent Living Support (ILS) scheme. The main study was not designed to provide definitive cost comparisons with conventional services, however, cost and resource implications of DP were considered and an analysis to determine comparative costs between DP and traditional services was undertaken. The study notes the difficulty in identifying the true cost of DP and reasonable comparators with traditional services. A set of four case studies are presented comparing actual costs of DP and in-house and independent sector services in the two local authorities studied. The comparison of costs and resources, which did not include significant costs for traditional local authority services but included the cost of the DP support scheme, found that DP was cheaper than traditional in-house service provision and relatively cost neutral when compared with independent sector provision. User satisfaction, however, was significantly greater with DP than traditional service delivery methods. The paper also examines factors which can potentially influence the cost of DP. The study suggests that DP represent a substantial improvement over traditional arrangements from a cost-benefit perspective. There is strong evidence to suggest that greater 'opportunity cost' savings can be anticipated when DP schemes become more fully integrated into policy, practice and procedures.
Personalisation for someone with a physical disability
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Place of publication:
- London
This video introduces Stephen Page, a man with Multiple Sclerosis. He emphasises how important it is that he can relate to his PA and chat with her as well as receiving personal assistance and help with basic tasks. Maintaining his social and cultural life is very important to Stephen and having a personal budget has enabled him to continue to attend events which help him to lead his chosen life and preserve his personal identity. He is a creative and talented person who needs to maintain his interests and activities for his own well-being. Stephen emphasises that personalisation can support people as individuals.
Disabled children and health: campaign briefing from the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign
- Author:
- FRANKLIN Louise
- Publisher:
- Every Disabled Child Matters
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The past two years have seen a new focus in the government's approach to children's health - the NHS Operating Frameworks for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 state that children should be one of the four national priorities for the NHS. Disabled children use NHS services significantly more than other children, yet they and their families consistently report poor experiences of both universal and specialist health services. This briefing paper sets out the case for further action to ensure the health needs of disabled children are appropriately met. It includes a number of recommendations for action at local and national level.
The reliability, validity and practical utility of measuring supports using the I-CAN instrument: Part II
- Authors:
- RICHES V.C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(4), July 2009, pp.340-353.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is an urgent need for developing reliable, valid and practical instruments that assess and classify the support needed by persons with disability to function in their chosen living, working and social environments. I-CAN is an instrument that addresses the frequency and level of support needed (not individual skills or deficits) for each individual with a disability. Studies were conducted to assess the test–retest reliability and inter-rater reliability. Concurrent validity was investigated by exploring the relationship between the I-CAN domain scales and the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP) (Bruininks et al. 1986) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOL-Q) (Schalock & Keith 1993). Predictive validity studies were undertaken using day-and night-time support hours. Regression analyses were run using these measures with I-CAN domain scales. Two independent studies were also conducted to ascertain the practical utility of the instrument. The I-CAN instrument demonstrated excellent inter-rater and test–retest reliability in the Activities and Participation domains. Low-to-moderate test–retest results in Physical Health, Mental Emotional Health and Behaviour domains were tracked to actual change in support needs in these areas. Validity proved acceptable. The relationships between I-CAN domain scales and adaptive behaviour were mixed but in the expected direction. Low-to-moderate correlation coefficients were evident between the I-CAN scales and the QOL-Q Total, but greater support needed in certain domains was associated with less empowerment and independence, and less community integration and social belonging. Attempts to explain current support hours against the I-CAN scales were disappointing and suggest that a number of other factors apart from individual support need to play a significant role. There was general satisfaction with the assessment process from stakeholders and participant groups. The authors conclude that I-CAN is a reliable, valid and user-friendly instrument for assessing the support needs of people with disabilities. It uses a process that involves the persons with disability, their family and friends and staff as appropriate. It is also apparent that the current provision of paid support hours by agencies is a complex phenomenon that is not based solely on individual support needs. Further research is warranted on the influence of the environment and the perceptions of need for support based on negotiable and non-negotiable support needs.
What the future holds: older people caring for adult sons and daughters with disabilities
- Authors:
- DILLENBURGER Karola, MCKERR Lyn
- Publisher:
- Changing Ageing Partnership
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 150p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This report is based on interviews with 29 parents reporting on 27 adult sons and daughters with disabilities in which issues were explored in relation to present life circumstances, support from family and service providers, levels of health and impairment, and futures planning. Findings expose high levels of commitment and love for sons and daughters in the face of, at times, severe disabilities and carers’ ill health. Carers also experienced twice the level of psychological stress than the general population. They faced worry and loneliness, experienced severe lack of statutory support, and reported near non-existence of futures planning, especially in cases with highest levels of impairment.