Managing PA’s
The Coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it for all of us, but if like me you use Direct Payments or CHC funding to employ your own PA’s , then lockdown comes with an additional set of challenges. I have been using Direct Payment to recruit and train support staff of my choosing for well over a decade, and I have always been an advocate for the choice and control it promotes.
Anyone who has experience of managing their PA’s will tell you that at times it can be a rollercoaster, particularly when it comes to dealing with staff shortages and absences, but never have I felt quite so panicked and stressed as I have when it came to dealing with the realities of self-isolation.
I guess you could say I am pretty fortunate in that I live with my husband (who is also a wheelchair user) we both have 24 hour care, so in times of difficulty we have more staff to go around. On two occasions now we had staff who were required to self-isolate due do potential symptoms of Covid-19. The government advice to Direct Payments users is to formulate a backup plan in case your care is directly affected by the pandemic, for many people this is easier said than done. In the past both my husband and I have been able to call on our parents in emergency situations, but their age means they too must self-isolate.
To minimise the risk of us both being left without care we have put together an on call rota so that there is always another staff member who can step in. We are both very thankful to our dedicated care team who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we are safely supported. Our live-in carers have agreed to reside with us for the duration of lockdown, so that they do not have to rely on public transport and the additional risk that it entails. Albeit after a bit of prodding and poking our local Coronavirus resilience hub provided us with additional PPE, so that we could maintain good infection control practice. If you are having difficulty sourcing the PPE that you need, then your local coronavirus response hub can be found via your council website.
Minding your head
It goes without saying that prolonged periods of isolation can take a toll on your mental health, but there are some tips which can help to maintain your mental wellbeing.
1) Keeping a routine
My first tip would definitely be to maintain a routine, don’t get me wrong, I love a PJ day as much as the next person, but part of the fun of chilling in your jammies and bingeing on boxsets is that, it is an occasional treat, when it becomes an everyday occurrence, the novelty really does wear off.
2) Finding a new hobby
All the times that you said to yourself “If only I had the time I would…” Well now is your opportunity, be it baking, reading, crafting or whatever – give it a go, you have nothing to lose. There are some very creative ways people have found to maintain a social life be it a virtual pub quiz or a Zoom diner party there are no end to the ways in which technology can enable a social connection.
3) Self-care sessions
Practicing self-care is a great way to beat the lockdown blues, whether it be doing your nails, or putting on a face mask, self-care is a great way to make you feel better physically and mentally. You may not be venturing outside the house, but that doesn’t mean to say that you can’t glam up for your video calls.
4) Getting fresh air as often as possible
This is a tricky one, especially if like me you live in a flat, with no access to a garden, it means taking any opportunity you get, my dingy carpark has become my change of scenery and an escape from the confines of our flat. If the weather is decent we sit outside with a Bluetooth speaker and fire up a disposable BBQ and pretend that we are somewhere infinitely more pleasant than a dingy carpark that houses the communal bins. It definitely requires a ‘glass half full’ approach.
5) It’s OK not to be OK
Social media has been dominated by positive posts, that in some cases would have you fooled into thinking that people are ‘living their best life’. Don’t panic - for the majority of people this is definitely not the case. We are living in very strange times right now, and to be honest it would be quite unusual if you didn’t have an off day. There is no right or wrong way to do lockdown, and we are all figuring it out as we go along. If you are feeling particularly low you can reach out for help on the Every Mind Matters website.
Keeping comfortable
Every wheelchair user knows how important a good posture is in minimising pain and maximising independence. During lockdown keeping comfortable is even more important, as regular accessible forms of exercise will have been disrupted. Perhaps you have regular physio or Botox injections to maintain your range of movement but your treatment has been put on hold. I rely now more than ever on my Paravan PR50 wheelchair which has fully adjustable seating so that I can easily reposition myself and I have also been using my Symmetrikit armchair, heat packs and a TENS machine.
The lockdown legacy
Although it is difficult to view the current situation in a positive light, there are some elements of lockdown life which will help to reframe the way we think of disability. I say this because by necessity we are now more reliant than ever on technology, therefore, some of the physical access barriers have now been removed. As we establish a ‘new normal’ there will be greater scope for the mainstream introduction of assistive technology, allowing people with access needs to have parity in the able bodied world. Last of all - stay well, stay safe and stay at home!
By Sarah Jeffers
