Polio - The Late Effects Reality

Present & Future Needs

The respondents were assessed as to their needs both now and in the future. The list that was compiled is exhaustive and covers items such as wheelchairs to simple items required to assist daily living functions. Some of those who responded said they needed multiple items, and Table 39 below shows those needs at the time of the survey, and then 2 and 5 years down the line.

Table 39 – Self-Assessed Needs to Mobility & Daily Living

It can be seen from Table 39 that the one area where there is great concentration of need is Bathroom Equipment and this correlates with the responses to questions about the progression of LEP, where toileting and dressing/undressing scored highly on the criticality tables (Appendix C).

Further areas which show great need are orthotics and mobility aids. Equipment of this type is expensive and, although needed desperately, is all too often not purchased due to the high prices, i.e. callipers at € 1000 minimum per leg and power chairs in the region of € 4000 upwards, dependent upon specification.

These needs which, when met, will often slow down the rate of deterioration, would be met in full if the person with a clinical diagnosis of LEP was granted a medical card, in the first instance in their own right.

As a further part of the interview process, the Occupational Therapists were asked to assess whether the respondents were in need of any other type of equipment. Interestingly, the extra needs noted were few.

Table 40a – OT assessed extra equipment needs

In addition to looking at equipment needs, the OT’s were asked to assess the additional service needs of the respondents.

Table 40b – OT assessed extra service needs

Another service covered was Respite Care. Some 166 (75%) of respondents felt that they were not in need, whilst another 26 (12%) have availed of it in the past with a further 27 (12%) believing they are in need of it, but are unable to access the service. The OT’s recommended a higher level of Respite Care for the future, 67 (30%), over the next 12 months with 47 (21%) on an ongoing basis. The OT’s also made the judgement that 13 (16%) of carers need a break in the next year with 7 (9%) availing of such an arrangement on an ongoing basis. The need for the breaks can be plainly seen when looking at the level of care that is given on a daily unpaid basis (see Tables 31a & 31b).

Note: Due to the very individual requirements of the above needs it has not been possible to make an estimate of the total revenue that would be involved.