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CHAPTER 12 Services Associated with the Spinal
Injury Unit
PARAQUAD SA and HOMECARE PLUS
PARAQUAD SA offers a wide variety of essential services to people living with a spinal cord injury. Some of these services you may access whilst you are undergoing
rehabilitation and you may access others when you are living out in the community. The services offered by PARAQUAD SA are:
The Peer Support Advocates
PARAQUAD SA’s Peer Support Advocates based at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre have experienced a spinal cord injury and have been through rehabilitation. They now live in their communities. Their personal experience, training, knowledge and skill equip them to support you in facing the challenges associated with a spinal injury. They represent the patients in the Spinal Injuries Unit, helping them to get the very best from the treatment and services available. You can call on them to assist you in gaining practical skills and to access the resources that will help you to live as independently as possible back in your community. They are available to you and your family and friends whilst you are in the unit undergoing rehabilitation and will also offer their services to support you when you leave the unit whether it is to return to your home or to move into new accommodation.
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They will offer you continuity of contact with someone you know so that you do not feel abandoned when you leave the unit.
QWERTY Internet Café
PARAQUAD SA staff and volunteers run the QWERTY Internet Café that is located at the eastern entrance to Ward 2C of the unit. The staff and volunteers have a wide range of knowledge about, and experience in, using the Internet and Information Technology (IT). Whilst you are in the unit, QWERTY provides you and your family and friends with free access to computers, the Internet and a range of assistive devices and technologies, designed for persons who have restricted mobility and dexterity. QWERTY can help to reduce the isolation that you may experience during long term rehabilitation – allowing you to maintain access to information and contact with family and friends via email. QWERTY is open Monday to Friday: 1pm – 5pm and Saturdays: 1pm – 4pm.
Accommodation Information
This program can provide you with a number of services, including:
The opportunity to discuss your accommodation needs and options.
Providing up- to-date information on sources of accommodation.
Assisting with locating suitable accessible housing.
Liasing with government departments and services, for example Housing SA.
Liasing with estate agents and landlords with suitable accessible properties.
Assisting in accessing Community Housing Schemes.
PARAQUAD SA also represents the accommodation needs of people with disabilities on committees, popular forums and with government agencies.
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Home Based Counselling
This program can provide you with a number of services, including:
An opportunity for you, and / or members of your family to discuss your particular issues and concerns within your own environment.
Assisting you in adapting to living in the community after sustaining a spinal injury.
Supplying information on available community resource.
PARAQUAD SA also actively works with committees, government and non-government agencies to take up issues, change policies and improve services available to people with spinal cord injury.
Family Support Groups
PARAQUAD SA facilitates these groups for the families and friends of people with spinal cord injury. It provides an opportunity for your family members and /or friends to get together for mutual support. The groups usually meet on a monthly basis.
Community Lifestyle Advisory Service
This Service is designed to assist people who use wheelchairs, particularly those with a spinal injury to:
Re-establish links with their local community after rehabilitation.
Maintain good health
Exercise control and choice over lifestyle experiences in response to changing physical and social needs;
14th Edition Dec 2012 12-4 Provide guidance, support and advice on a range of issues to maintain general
health and wellbeing. This includes advice on: nutrition, diet and oral hygiene; exercise and fitness to maximise ability and strength, encourage circulation and increase the body’s metabolic rate; a skin care package providing information on prevention, recognition of early warning signs and appropriate care and
management of pressure sores/ulcers.
Provide opportunities to develop regular social contacts with those who share a similar lifestyle, by participation in small group information or exercise sessions or by integration into community based services.
Provide information to assist with accessing: Government and Private Service Agencies (eg . Centrelink, Benevolent Foundations); Education - including. Secondary, Post Secondary, Tertiary, or General Interest (e.g. WEA); and Employment options (Paid or Voluntary).
The service is free and can be accessed in-home, by telephone or in small group sessions and is tailored to ensure that the individual needs of each person are addressed.
Volunteer Program
PARAQUAD SA coordinates a team of volunteers to provide support to persons who have a spinal cord injury or neurological condition and use a wheelchair. The services include basic home and garden maintenance, home visiting, shopping, chatting, phone support, walking and grooming pets. All volunteers receive orientation and training and understand all aspects of client confidentiality.
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Recreation Program
PARAQUAD SA offers thus program in metropolitan Adelaide to encourage people who have a spinal cord injury or neurological condition and use a wheelchair to become involved in recreational activities. Meetings are held on a fortnightly basis and may involve a number of activities, form arts and crafts to outings to various sporting and recreational events.
For further information on any of PARAQUAD SA services or programs phone 8355 3500 during business hours.
HOMECARE PLUS
Provides 24 hour a day, 365 day a year, in-home “fee for service” personal support for people with physical or intellectual disabilities, post-operative patients, frail aged, and their families. Services include personal care, banking, bill paying, organising
respite/time out, companionship, assistance with exercise programs, cooking, shopping, gardening, cleaning and routine maintenance. Any income earned from HOMECARE PLUS is returned to fund community programs through PARAQUAD SA.
Who can you contact?
If you require further information or assistance please contact the following staff: PQA Peer Support Advocates (08) 8222 1820
Toll Free: 1800 063 419 (SA only)
Email: [email protected]
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PQA Head office 28 Lower Portrush Road
Marden SA 5070
Telephone (08) 8355 3500 Facsimile (08) 8355 3511
Mt Gambier Shop 6, Ripley Arcade
27 Commercial Street West Mt Gambier SA 5290 Telephone (08) 8723 3788
Riverland 1/3 Wormald Street Berri SA 5343
Telephone (08) 8582 4654
Port Pirie 4 Swan Street Port Pirie SA 5540
Telephone: (08) 8632 2122
Port Lincoln 148 New West Street Port Lincoln SA 5606 Telephone: (08) 8683 3188
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What does Disability Recreation & Sports S.A do?
The DisabilityRecreation
& Sports
Association of South Australia (formerly Wheelchair Sports), provides an opportunity for individuals with a spinal impairment or classifiable disability to participate in sporting and recreational activities.Disability Recreation
& Sports
offers the opportunity to participate in sports both on a social and competitive level (nationally and internationally up to Paralympic level). Sports include archery, athletics (track, field and pentathlon), basketball, Lawn Bowls, shooting, swimming, tennis, table tennis, power lifting and wheelchair rugby. There is also an extensive junior program for the younger athletes, which combines sport and recreation.Involvement with Disability Recreation
& Sports
can provide avenues to achieve goals and to gain self-esteem and status within the community. In addition to formal sporting competitions, they can arrange activities based on membership demands such as boccia and push ‘n’ power sports. New athletes are entitled to Honorary Membership. For more details contact the Physical Education Department at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre or Disability Recreation& Sports
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Online: www.drssa.org.au Phone: 8234 1533
Office: 314 South Road, RICHMOND SA
Other Community Sport and Recreation Resources YMCA – rec linkup
This free service provides planning, information, education and introductory assistance for people with a disability to participate in sport, art and recreation activities. The online database contains all registered clubs and organisations in South Australia, including non-disabled groups, and traditional sporting clubs through to dancing, card playing and art and craft groups.
Online: http//reclinkup.ymca.org.au Phone: 8200 2500
Office: 338 Tapleys Hill rd, Seaton
Riding for the Disabled Association of SA (RDA)
RDA provides horse riding and related activities for people with a disability. They have 13
centers around South Australia (metro and rural). The website contains information about the
programs run at each site. Online: www.rdasa.org.au Phone: 08 8331 1833
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Office for sport and recreation
This is a state government body encompassing the ‘Be active’ program. They provide funding to organisation and programs to encourage community participation in sport and rec. Their web site has information on grant recipients and contacts for programs that are currently running. This can be useful as many programs have a limited life time, so up to date information can be hard to some by. They also offer assistance for able bodied groups looking to incorporate disabled athletes into programs.
Online: www.recsport.sa.gov.au Phone: (08) 7424 7677
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SA Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre (SASCIRC)
What is the SASCIRC?
The SASCIRC has had a presence within the Spinal Injuries Unit since 1990. Originally known as the FES Clinic, the centre has maintained a research and a clinical role for many years. In 1997 the FES Clinic moved its focus mainly to research, with new funding from the Motor Accident Commission (MAC), and became the FES Unit. Research into body composition and bone metabolic changes after SCI - the FESAbility study - raised the Unit’s research profile, attracting private and corporate sponsorship including a one-man effort by former SIU patient Terry Powell who raised research funds by walking from Adelaide to Mt Gambier. A display of research posters from the work of the SASCIRC and the Spinal Injuries Unit can be seen in the northwest corridor of the Therapy Complex.
In recent years, the Research Centre has developed strong interests in neuroscience and biotechnology aspects of Spinal Cord Injury research, looking into particular biochemical factors which may influence recovery from SCI (e.g. currently working on the ProgIND Study). This has prompted the change of name to SASCIRC. The Research Centre has now participated in several multi-centre trials of new therapeutic agents of potential value in Spinal Cord Injury, sponsored by international pharmaceutical companies. Inpatients and Outpatients of both the RAH and HRC Spinal Unit may be approached seeking their participation in research activities. Participation is voluntary. All research projects are conducted according to the guidelines of the RAH Human Research Ethics Committee, under the leadership of Dr. Ruth Marshall, Director of OASIRS and the SASCIS.
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Outpatient Medical Services
Once you have been discharged from the SIU, there is a system of medical follow-up in the Outpatient Department. This is designed to monitor any changes, deal with any issues that may arise, and provide specialist advice regarding your spinal cord injury. It is expected however, that your routine medical care will be managed by your General Practitioner.
Review Appointments
Initially after leaving the SIU you will be given a review appointment somewhere between one week and three months post discharge. Depending on how stable your neurological status is, further appointments will be booked as the doctor feels it is appropriate. For the first few years post discharge, most people will be reviewed at least once per year and most will be reviewed much more often in the first 2 years.
Regular Tests
Most people will have one or a number of tests regularly in order to monitor health and ensure that your medications are working as they should. These tests may include:
Blood tests
Urine micro and culture
Renal and bladder ultrasound
The normal procedure for these routine tests will be that you will receive a letter when you need to have a test. The letter will give you information about how to book the test. You will need to arrange to have the test done, and the results will be forwarded to your GP and to the Spinal Injury Unit. If a follow-up appointment is required with a Spinal
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Unit doctor, you will be contacted to set this up. Sometimes, if you have a urinary tract infection, you may be contacted to set up an appointment with your GP as your GP will usually be able to see you more quickly than you can be seen at the SIU.
Improvement or Deterioration
It is important that you monitor how you are going after discharge. If there is a significant change in your functioning, it is important that you contact your GP about it. Your GP may then suggest that you book an appointment with your doctor here, if the change requires the involvement of a specialist.
The doctors here are also available to give advice to your GP, regarding things like adjusting your medications or management of changes in your spasticity levels.
If there is a significant change in your level of functioning, then your specialist may wish to involve the allied health therapists to work on certain skills. This may be possible as an outpatient, or may involve a short admission as an inpatient depending on your needs.
