What is Reablement?
Reablement is for people who have disabilities, and those who are frail or recovering from a period of illness or injury. It is designed to help people to regain the ability to undertake activities that they would normally do such as cooking and cleaning. Reablement is beneficial as it helps individuals to regain their independence, and can help them to stay living in their own homes for longer.
These services are provided by local authorities, health services and care providers, however there isn’t currently a model for reablement, which means that services vary greatly between different areas. Reablement delivered by the local authority lasts approximately six weeks but can go on for longer if stopping the service would impede an individual’s progress. Generally the service is free for the first six weeks but after this period the service us usually passed on to private providers.
The main aims of reablement is to reduce the number of hours a carer is required to assist within the home. Another aim of reablement is to to ensure people can develop their independence further, so that they can remain in their own home.
Who reablement can benefit
Where reablement services are run by local authorities eligibility can vary depending on location. Generally the services are targeted at those where reablement is likely to benefit them, and aid them in regaining physical function and improve their independence. Those who are about to be discharged from hospital can be referred for reablement. Individual’s can also be referred to these services by their doctor. Individuals can, also, buy the services privately at any time.
The reablement process
Reablement has many benefits for both the individual and their families. This is because these services can help families to balance caring for their relative with other responsibilities such as work. This means that the pressure is taken off of family members, which in turn can lower the strain on family relationships.
When reablement first begins there is an assessment from a reablement worker. During this, what the individual is able to do will be assessed. Then anyone who is involved with the assessment can agree some goals for the individual to achieve. These may include: walking up the stairs, personal care, and cooking.
Reablement workers such as carers visit the individual on a regular basis. As reablement is an intensive service it is likely that carers would stay longer and visit more frequently than a conventional care worker. When an individual uses a reablement process care workers will try not to do things for an individual, but instead they will try to encourage the individual, so that they are better able to deal with daily living tasks for themselves. They may also show individuals new ways of doing things to make it easier, because of this, reablement care takes longer than conventional home care. Equipment, or modifications may be made to the individual’s home. These may be put into place in order to help an individual to regain their independence even further.
Occupational therapists may be used during the reablement process. Their usage can be beneficial because they use a variety of skills, and a knowledge of the many impacts of disability and injury on an individual to provide them with a plan, tailored to their needs, and their potential for independence.
Assessments are also a key focus during reablement, as the workers will want to monitor the progress an individual is making, and it also gives them the opportunity to plan any ongoing support.
Once reablement has finished, if there are concerns about the individual becoming isolated, lonely, or if the individual isn’t safe in their home then social activities can be built into the individual’s support plan along with support options such as Telecare (a service that provides monitors and alarms to keep people safe).
Reablement services should be routinely monitored and evaluated to ensure that the service runs effectively and efficiently. The focus is on doing things for yourself not having them done for you.
Local Home Care providers will always tailor any service to meet your individual requirements but make sure the staff are trained in reablement which is different from normal care provision.