Experiencing a spinal cord injury is a life-altering event that brings significant challenges and uncertainties, especially during the initial stages of recovery. After receiving specialised nursing care in the hospital, the next crucial step is arranging appropriate home care to support continued recovery and rehabilitation.
Trinity Homecare provides comprehensive spinal cord injury care plans tailored to meet individual needs, ensuring that each person receives the necessary assistance and support at home.
Spinal cord injury care can be delivered as a form of complex live-in care, specifically designed to address complicated health conditions and injuries. With Trinity Homecare’s specialised carers, who bring expertise in spinal cord injury care, you can rest assured that your loved one’s recovery is in capable and compassionate hands.
Our dedicated team is committed to providing the highest quality of care, enhancing the quality of life and promoting independence for people living with spinal cord injuries.
What is spinal cord injury care?
Spinal cord injuries are categorised into two types; a complete and an incomplete spinal cord injury. Complete spinal cord injuries result in permanent damage to the spinal cord that can often lead to paraplegia (partial or complete paralysis of the lower part of the body) or tetraplegia (paralysis in both the upper and lower body).
The area of the spinal cord that has experienced injury is also important when it comes to administering treatment and care. In ascending order, the four areas of the spinal cord that can be affected include:
- Cervical—The head and neck region above the shoulders. If this area is affected, this can result in the most severe of spinal cord injuries.
- Thoracic—Affecting the upper chest, mid back, and abdominal section. Hand and arm function is not usually impaired with this type of spinal cord injury.
- Lumbar—This injury may affect the hips and leg area, leading to the use of mobility aids such as wheelchairs or leg braces.
- Sacral—Although this type of injury impacts the hips, back of the thighs, buttocks, and pelvic region, the individual is most likely to be able to walk following a sacral spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injury care offers support for the symptoms of various spinal cord injuries. Specialised spinal injury carers can help individuals manage their symptoms and live as independent a life as possible, all in the comfortable surroundings of home.
Spinal cord injury care provided to an individual in their own home is a type of complex live-in care, providing round-the-clock assistance to overcome the challenges a spinal cord injury brings about.
What does spinal cord injury care involve?
To be truly effective, spinal cord injury care must be personalised to each individual. Factors such as the type and location of the injury, as well as its severity, all influence the level and type of care required. Typically, spinal cord injury care involves:
- Help with moving around, using mobility aids, or rehabilitation exercises
- Assistance getting in and out of bed and with nighttime routines
- Personal care e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Preparation of nutritious meals
- Light housekeeping
- Running errands
- Medication management e.g. oral medication or baclofen pumps
- Transportation to and from healthcare appointments and rehabilitation sessions
- Companionship
The benefits of spinal cord injury care
Sustaining a spinal cord injury can be a shock to the system, with individuals who were once independent now having to rely on the help of others. Having a live-in complex carer specialising in spinal injury care close by can be highly advantageous for those who have long-term or short-term mobility issues. The benefits of arranging home care for spinal cord injury patients who have been discharged from hospital include:
- Remaining in the comfortable surroundings of home
- Being cared for by an experienced spinal cord injury carer
- Peace of mind for family and friends
- Fully supported recovery period
- Round-the-clock personalised care
- Emotional support from a compassionate carer
How live-in care can help
Complex live-in care can help aid the recovery of individuals who have experienced spinal cord injury. The delicate nature of the situation requires an expert touch that family caregivers or inexperienced personnel may not be able to offer. Caring for someone with spinal cord injury requires specialist knowledge. From safely moving an individual from their bed or chair to encouraging rehabilitation exercises, a live-in carer can liaise with healthcare professionals in order to provide the best possible care.
Remaining in the familiar environment of home is also beneficial for those living with spinal cord injuries. Complex live-in care ensures that individuals do not have to go through the upheaval and distress of relocating to a care home facility. What’s more, live-in home care offers individuals the opportunity to live as independently as possible after spinal cord injury. In addition, being independent and secure in their own home helps to boost confidence and emotional well-being.
Get in touch today
After being discharged from hospital following treatment for a spinal cord injury, it is important that your loved one’s recovery is also supported at home. Spinal cord injury care, in the form of complex live-in care, assists your loved one’s recovery in the comfort of home. Trinity Homecare can help facilitate your loved one’s care needs by matching your loved one with an experienced spinal cord injury carer.
Awarded an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, Trinity ranks amongst the top 3% of all nationwide care companies in England. This gives you the peace of mind that your loved one will receive the highest standard of spinal cord injury care and support.
If you would like to learn more about arranging live-in spinal cord injury care for your loved one, simply get in touch with our friendly and professional care team.
Arranging live-in care with Trinity is easy. Just follow these five simple steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
