A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN MSWA NDIS TEAM MEMBER The MSWA National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) team are responsible for providing a smooth and easy NDIS journey for our Members and non-MS Clients. They are always ready to answer all your questions, help assess your eligibility, and guide you through the application process. We asked Pranjal Pawar, NDIS Client Relationship Coordinator based in our Wilson office, to describe a typical day to illustrate how she helps our Members transition to the NDIS. 8am: Early start; I arrive in the office and make a quick coffee while chatting with my colleagues in the team. 8.15am: I phone a Member regarding eligibility for the NDIS. It’s important to confirm they are under 65 and an Australian citizen. The NDIS has yet to roll out throughout the State so I also check he lives in a current NDIS site; it’s Armadale and that is a live site! I confirm I will submit his eligibility form online on his behalf; his NDIS journey has begun. 8.30am: Phone call from a Client with Parkinson’s wanting to know if we can provide a range of domestic services including meal preparation and home cleaning. I also clarify that gardening services can be funded by the NDIS. 8.45am: Off to a home visit with a Client to help prepare her for a planning meeting with the WA NDIS Local Coordinator. She has recently had a stroke. Many of our Members and Clients like to involve our NDIS team before their planning meeting as they are not sure what questions to ask the Local Coordinator. As the Client mentions to me when we meet: “I don’t know what I don’t know.” Over a lovely cup of tea we discuss the barriers she faces in her everyday life and the kind of supports and services she needs to overcome them. Above all, her goals are the desire to live independently and safely in her home and fully participate in community life. She questions whether she really deserves these kinds of supports and I stress the NDIS is an entitlement for anyone with a permanent disability. She doesn’t have to ‘muddle through’ any more. She is very happy with the plan we develop together, and we confirm the planning meeting appointment time. 10.30am: I return to Wilson in time to talk about the NDIS with a group of new MSWA Care Support Workers. There is a lively Q & A session after my presentation. They are especially interested in the fact that their Clients have total choice and control over their NDIS budgets. For example, they can move to another service provider if they are unhappy with the services they receive. This makes these training days especially relevant to maintaining our high service delivery standards. 11.15am: I meet a new Client to discuss what the NDIS can offer her. She is under the impression that she won’t be eligible as she is working full-time. I stress that the NDIS is keen to ensure people can remain in employment if possible. I outline some of the services she can receive. For example, if fatigue is an issue when she returns home in the evening, NDIS funding can help with home cleaning and meal preparation. This will help her successfully maintain her role as a great mum for her three children. The NDIS can also help her with funding to access a fatigue management program. I mention our OT Department has helped many Members and Clients manage fatigue and they can also advise on reconfiguring their workplaces, so they are fully aligned with their needs. I also recommend incorporating a transportation/taxi allowance into her plan; there are some days when she may not feel like driving home from work. She is very impressed the NDIS is tailored for people like her with an emphasis on early intervention. You don’t have to have a severe disability to be eligible and benefit from the NDIS. 12.00pm: Chatting with two of my colleagues in the NDIS team, we agree it can be difficult to fully convey the functional disability that many of our Clients often face. Neurological conditions can be variable and changeable, and people sometimes present at the planning meetings with no apparent issues. We agree that a good strategy is to ask our Clients to describe how their worst day looks when they meet the NDIS planner. This enables the planner to better understand the variable and debilitating nature of their condition. 1.00pm: Off to lunch. Lunch is also a great opportunity to share experiences with my colleagues in the physiotherapy, occupational therapy, counselling and speech therapy departments. It’s important for me to understand the full range of services they can offer and the challenges they also face. 20 | MSWA BULLETIN SUMMER 2017

1.45pm: The entire NDIS team meets with the MSWA Welfare team. We discuss the new ‘Case Management’ approach implemented for our NDIS clients. This provides a more holistic approach and the Welfare team will support the NDIS clients and help implement their comprehensive NDIS plan. This is a very exciting development which, we believe, will deliver superior outcomes for all our Clients. 3.15pm: An opportunity to talk to the Counselling Team about a plan for a Client with Motor Neurone Disease. Counselling in this instance will help her deal effectively with many of the stresses she currently faces in her home life. The counsellor recommends the number of counselling hours for the year which we will integrate into the plan. 4.15pm: Quick update of an NDIS plan for a Client. One of his goals is to participate in elections. I will include funding for a support worker to accompany him to the polling station, enabling him to vote in person in the upcoming elections. 5.00pm: Time to go home. It has been a very busy day, but it has also been a highly satisfying and rewarding day. It is such a pleasure to know that MSWA is fully participating in this great new adventure that is the NDIS! Current NDIS Areas in WA • Lower South West • Perth Hills • Cockburn Kwinana • Armadale, Serpentine Jarrahdale, and Murray • Bayswater, Bassendean, Chittering, York, Toodyay, Northam • Rockingham and Mandurah • Kimberley and Pilbara If you would like further information or have any questions, please call 1800 287 367. TRAVELLING WITH DYSPHAGIA JAMAICA GRANTIS, MSWA SPEECH PATHOLOGY MANAGER For some people living with multiple sclerosis or other neurological conditions, the presence of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) means swallowing thin drinks can be a challenge, or even unsafe. To enhance safety, speech pathologists may recommend that some people drink thickened fluids. Planning a trip away, or even a day out, presents a challenge for people who require thickened fluids, but it’s certainly not impossible and should not prevent you from exploring your community and beyond. The key is to be prepared. Tips for travelling with dysphagia: Plan ahead Speak to your travel agent, tour guide, hotel manager or transport company to make sure they can accommodate your needs. For example, if flying, can you bring your own thickened drinks on board the plane? If not, can a flight attendant prepare a drink for you if you provide them with the thickener and mixing instructions? If on a lengthy or overnight train ride, can you refrigerate your drink somewhere? Consider your preferences Different brands of thickener offer a range of options suitable for travel. For example, Precise Thick-N INSTANT is available in a smaller 500mL bottle which fits inside most handbags. Instant THICK has pre-measured, single-serve sachets of powder thickener which are perfect for when you are on the go. Both Flavour Creations and Resource ThickenUp Clear offer pre-thickened, ready to go drinks, including water, tea, coffee, juice and cordial. Know your product If while travelling you are using a different thickener to what you would normally use at home, be sure to read the measuring and mixing instructions carefully, as products differ significantly. Also pay attention to the active ingredients and be on the lookout for any possible allergies or contraindications. Stock up Make sure you have enough supply to last your trip, or even a little extra to ensure you don’t run out. The MSWA Speech Pathology team may be able to help you order what you need. Consider what other equipment you might need to pack and how you will keep it clean Eg, a small plastic measuring jug, measuring spoons, a miniwhisk, aerolatte or fork for mixing, a cooler bag, zip lock bags, travel mug, straws, etc. If you are planning a trip away and would like more advice about how to manage your swallowing difficulties while travelling, the MSWA Speech Pathology Department is here to help. Please contact us on 9365 4888. MSWA BULLETIN SUMMER 2017 | 21