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case studyjust wondering what other peoples response or thoughts would be to this case study 'a service user you are working with has epilesy and is living in a supported housing service (not 24hr cover)mental health. He reports that he has 1-2 seizures a week in the mornings (not witnessed by staff). He is on medication. He has stated that he does not use the shower because he is concerned he may have a seizure and fall. He says he prefers to wash his body down using his sink and rejects the offer of a shower chair being provided. If you are to respect the persons right to make their own choices is there anything else you should do to support the service user? (part of a case study we are to carry out for nvq 3)
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CASE STUDY
ONE SERVICE THAT I WORK WITH WAITS OUTSIDE THE SHOWER ROOM WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL IS IN THERE, SO THAT SHE CAN SHOWER WITHOUT WORRY. ITS THEIR CHOICE, OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I would possibly ask if he
I would possibly ask if he would like a referral to OT and as Katrina says offering to be in the house when he has a shower for safety sake. Clearly, if he is having that amount of seizures his medication isnt working therefore he would probably benefit from medical review either with his GP or his consultant. If he isnt under a consultant a referral may be beneficial to assess his epilepsy further, as well as support from an epilepsy specialist nurse.
His overall medication could do with being reviewed, as i know many medications which treat mental health problems have an adverse reaction with anti-convulsant medication so this maybe needs reviewing.
How about seeing if he would like an advocate? - This will help in, and in the long run ensure that his voice is listened to.
You need to get him to record his seizures, including time, date, duration approx (if there is no witnesses), description, feelings before / after. Or, if he describes tehm to you, you could record it, but documenting that it is his account.
It would worry me about the amount of seizures - thsi isnt normal really. He is at serious risk of injuring him self.
However, as care staff as you are aware that this is happening you need to ensure that you cover yourself, if something was seriously to happen and it came out that you were aware of it, why wasnt something done? Risk assessments, and support plans need to done, as well as you making your own documentation in daily logs (etc) that he has told you he has experienced a seizure and advice you have given.
Possibly a MDT meeting needs to be arranged with social worker, community mental health nurse, the client, support staff, his family and possibly advocate and his psychiatrist. Does he have capacity to make these decisions?
Hope this has helped. Carla
Carla
NVQ2/3 Health and Social Care, GNVQ Advanced Health and Social Care, Technical Certificate in Care +Student Nurse (LD branch).