I am no longer carried downstairs , which makes me feel physically better and I have noticed that I am more mobile . I have been downstairs every day since the installation …”
0.0 % 0.0 % 0.0 % 0.0 %
A great deal A lot A moderate amount A little Not at all
Graph 1 : How much have the adaptations helped you achieve your goals previously discussed ?
A great deal A lot A moderate amount A little Not at all
Graph 2 : How much have the adaptations improved your ability to look after yourself on a day-to-day basis ?
I am no longer carried downstairs , which makes me feel physically better and I have noticed that I am more mobile . I have been downstairs every day since the installation …”
Following the installation of a stair lift under the DFG , and as part of the review , they were asked : ‘ How much have the adaptations helped you achieve your goals previously discussed ?’ To which they recorded ‘ a great deal ’.
She said : ‘ I am no longer carried downstairs , which makes me feel physically better and I have noticed that I am more mobile . I have been downstairs every day since the installation , and I have prepared the sauce for a meal later today . I haven ’ t been able to do this before .
‘ I have also been out in the car with my husband to pick up the children from school . Although my condition varies , I feel that I can begin to be more involved in family life as I am downstairs more and am more mobile .’
Another service user said : ‘ My condition makes me feel depressed , low and frustrated . Every day is a struggle . It hurts too much to get in and out of the bath ’. He wanted to achieve safe and independent showering and after the adaptation , he recorded that the adaptation had helped him to achieve his goals ‘ a great deal ’.
He commented : ‘ The shower is brilliant ; I have no pain in my hips and legs now and the carer no longer needs to lift my legs over the side of the bath . I have a bit more energy , as I no longer have to struggle to get into the bath . It has changed my life .’
What have we learned ?
The outcome measure has been in use for 18 months and the data is showing that we are consistently achieving 95 % -97 % of service users having their goals met either ‘ a great deal ’ or ‘ a lot ’.
For the HIA performance measures , we are achieving close to 100 % of service users being ‘ satisfied ’ or ‘ very satisfied ’ with our service .
In relation to the questions around a carer , 73 % had informal care , with 67 % of those recording that the adaptation had helped the carer to look after them .
Review of our progress
In reviewing the outcome measure , its limitations and strengths , as occupational therapists we recognise that , although the survey is nonstandardised , it is a quick and simple tool to administer and keeps the person as the focal point of the process .
It has helped the service user to identify their strengths and weaknesses and demonstrated a positive change in their occupational performance .
On discussion with the HIA manager , it was agreed that we did not need to add further questions to expand into other areas of the service , as our key performance indicators are captured elsewhere . In this way , the outcome measure remains person centred .
40 OTnews July 2023