Client-Centred Rehabilitation - Arthritis Community Research ...

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accident…if they listened, they
would hear those visions. And they
would break down into
steps…toward the goal would be
great, but they tend to put you down
in saying, ‘That’s beyond your
capacity.” Well, who says? Let me
try.” SCI #2
“Too many survivors have been told
you can’t do this, you can’t do that.
You can only put square pegs in
square holes and you can’t climb to
the top of the mountain. Well, you
really can. So much of
rehabilitation is missing from what,
it’s not what the clients want to do at
all.” ABI #1
These comments highlight the importance of
allowing the client to retain hope about their
future.
Client-centred care does not happen
automatically. Some respondents
(particularly in ABI and SCI groups) talked
about having to struggle or fight to get
client-centred care.
“To get really client-centred I had to
fight for it.” SCI #1
All participants talked about the importance
of being self-directed and taking an active
role in their rehabilitation in order for it to
be successful. Members of the focus groups
touched on the combined issue of receiving
education and being self-directed.
Specifically, clients discussed the
connection between education and being
self-directed in two different ways, one
being how education can lead an individual
to be more self-directed. The second way is
how self-directed individuals seek their
education resources. Overall, regardless of
how education and self-direct are related to
one another, the combination of the two
result in individuals being better equipped to
cope with their chronic condition.
“I think the more you learn about
your disease, the more you can
participate in the treatment that’s
being offered to you” HIPKNEE
Preparedness for participating in goal
setting and decision making
Although respondents wanted to be involved
in decision-making and goal setting, they
recognized their lack of preparedness to
participate, particularly in the early stages of
their rehabilitation. This lack of
preparedness related to being too ill or
incapacitated, uninformed about their
condition, or unable to accept the long-term
implications of their condition to be able to
participate appropriately in goal setting and
decision-making.
“I don’t recall being well enough,
comfortable enough with my own
disease at many of the different times
when I had surgery to actually
question the therapy that I was
getting or to make any
recommendations about it. I really
didn’t feel that…knowledgeable
about it.” HIPKNEE
“I was too much like a child to make
my own decisions. My family made
a lot of decisions for me.” ABI #2
“Mine is 100% once I smartened up,
once I got past the denial stage
where all I wanted to do is a magic
silver bullet – out the door back to
my important job and my busy social
life very important lady I was. Once
I got past that stage then everything
was totally collaborative. 100%....”