Insurance and care provider icare has released a new guidance tool to assist adults living with spinal cord injuries, as well as their carers and the involved health professionals, in making decisions about support services.
The guidance, now on its third edition, was developed by Sue Lukersmith and a working group of experts, including health professionals, researchers, service providers, support workers, and injured people over a 14-month period.
The group drew on the experts’ practical knowledge as well as the first-hand and practical experiences of those with spinal cord injuries, to come up with updated guidance that includes simple definitions, screening tools, maintenance checklists, practical advice, and links to information and resources focusing on the injured person.
“The injured person plays a key role in making decisions about the support they need,” Lukersmith said. “After all, they are the expert in understanding and managing their own progress, physical needs, and goals.”
The extensive research and review involved asking “those living with a spinal cord injury what support and resources they require, not just immediately following their initial assessment, but over time, as their age, condition, and lifestyle change,” as well as the injured persons' “‘informal’ unpaid carers – family members and friends who assist and support them,” Lukersmith said.
“This new, multi-dimensional approach to decision-making aims to provide the injured person with more choice and control of support services,” said Don Ferguson, group executive of icare’s integrated care division.
The guide is also now available
online.
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