CUTTING THE APRON STRINGS
A Long term Case-Managed Package
Miss M, now in her thirties, suffered severe brain and multiple injuries in an RTA nearly 10 years ago. At the time, she did factory work. After injury, she received rehab (both in-patient and from a local community team).
However, she continued to live with her mother and was highly dependent on her, especially for many ADLs . Physical, cognitive, and emotional problems included:
• limited mobility (walked with a frame)
• double vision
• wording-finding difficulties
• memory impairment
• poor anger control
• lack of insight.
We assessed her and set these goals:
•Find a suitable home
• Help with transition from family home
• Reduce client’s dependence upon mother by:
o Increasing confidence and ability to perform ADLs (e.g. cooking, organising daily activities, household tasks).
o Introduce a Home Support Worker (HSW) to take her on social activities, shopping, etc.
o Teach anger management to improve anger control.
o Identify suitable daily activities and investigate vocational training courses.
Two years on, Miss M lives in her own home with minimal support – she gets help only with heavy household chores and transport. She has much increased her social activities. Fending for herself has increased her insight and awareness of strengths and weaknesses.
She is able to budget (within limits as she lacks capacity) and organise her time with minimal input from the care team. She is no longer dependent on her mother. She attends a part-time course in a college.