Care and Mobility considerations
It is important to bear in mind that damage to specific parts or functions of the brain (which may be physically small) may cause disproportionate, and devastating disability. Some examples of this are dysphasia (difficulty with expressing and understanding language), hemianopia, and the inability to recognize faces. It is especially true of language loss, which may occur in isolation. A person with aphasia would not be able to speak, read, manage mathematical calculations etc.
Spinal cord strokes may well affect bowel and bladder control.
There may be other effects such as:
- Speech disorders, such as:
- Dysarthria (poorly articulated speech, caused by problems in muscle control)
- Aphasia (disorder of the language content of speech, a defect or loss of the ability to comprehend or express words)
- Anomia (inability to produce the correct word)
- Dysphonia (hoarse or whispered speech)
- Hemianopia (loss of half of the visual field)
- Cognitive function – effect on thinking, awareness of surroundings, attention, learning, judgement and memory)
- Hemianaesthesia (loss of sensation of the affected part)
- Perceptual problems (lack of awareness of the affected part of the body)
- Mood disturbances or depression
- Ataxia (problems with co-ordination, unsteadiness)
- Vertigo (balance disturbance)
- Problems controlling movements of the eyes
- Problems with swallowing
- Problems with bowel and bladder control
Vision guidance is available in addition where appropriate. A customer with visual problems related to a stroke may also satisfy the H/R Mobility Severely Visually Impaired (SVI) deeming provisions.
Cognitive Function - Mild Functional Restriction
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Disabling Effects |
People with a mild restriction are likely to have mild cognitive deficit. |
| Mobility |
People with a mild cognitive impairment would normally be able to find their way around outdoors. |
| Care |
People with a mild cognitive impairment would not need supervision or watching over. |
Cognitive Function - Moderate Functional Restriction
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Disabling Effects |
People with a moderate restriction are likely to have moderate cognitive deficit. |
| Mobility |
People with a moderate cognitive impairment would normally be able to find their way around outdoors. |
| Care |
The resulting disability may lead them to require assistance with undertaking complex activities. They may require prompting to prepare food, take medication, deal with correspondence and financial matters and undertake appropriate activities. They are not likely to require supervision to prevent potentially dangerous behaviours or activities. |
Cognitive Function - Severe Functional Restriction
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Disabling Effects |
People with a severe restriction are likely to have severe cognitive deficit. |
| Mobility |
People with a severe cognitive impairment would not normally be able to find their way around in unfamiliar surroundings. |
| Care |
The resulting disability is likely to require supervision to prevent potentially dangerous behaviours or activities. |
Where there is upper limb and lower limb and cognitive involvement while each is considered separately when assessing functional restriction it must be borne in mind that the combined effects on a persons ability to self care and get around may be greater than the individual components.
Amended April 2011
