S-1-02-03
SYMPOSIUM ON COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION
Jose Jimenez (University of Toronto, Canada)
The Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) was developed in the late 70s in an attempt to improve the delivery of rehabilitation services on the basis of the principles of equality, social justice, solidarity, integration and dignity. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) developed in the late 80s the concept of Local Health Systems (SILOS) and strongly recommended that rehabilitation services were integrated in this model as a mandatory component. This integration could and should be carried out under the auspices of CBR. In USA and Canada a parallel disabled and consumer oriented movement was also initiated in the late 70s under the name of Independent Living (IL). This movement, contrary to belief, is not a substitute for CBR. We, as citizens, should support the political aspirations of IL. However, we, as health professionals, must emphasize the medical/pathological components in the development of impairments and functional deficits as well as the importance of risk factors (biological, environmental and personal) in the progression of the disabling process. By doing that it would eventually be possible to decrease the incidence and prevalence of disability. We must teach our politicians that the difference between living with an established disability and the study and treatment of disabilities is a very significant one requiring completely different interventions.
S-1-02-04
REAL LIFE REHABILITATION
BARRY S. SMITH, M.D. BAYLOR HEALTH CARE. SYSTEMS, DALLAS, TEXAS
PURPOSE: This presentation will describe a unique method of delivering rehabilitation care to individuals with complex neurologic or traumatic injuries in a home setting rather than the traditional inpatient rehabilitation hospital method.
METHOD: A complete rehabilitation team is assembled including therapy services, nursing, psychology and attendant care. This team goes to the home setting and provides a total rehabilitation program to the involved individual as could be provided in the inpatient setting. Family training is included to prepare the family unit for the best long term management of the involved patient.
RESULT: The family unit is as equally prepared for the management of the involved patient as those are with longer inpatient stays. The home setting is ideally prepared for the long term management of persons with acquired disabilities.
CONCLUSION; Real Life Rehabilitation is a cost effective program to manage severely disabled patients in the home setting. This program can maximize the preparation of the home setting and the training of the family unit to respond to the challenge of care for the neurologically and traumatically injured patient.
