In case a client with severe disability is hospitalized
February 8, 2016
Lifting the ban on helpers for hospitalized patients with intractable diseases will be lifted from fiscal year 2006.
Kyodo News Service
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has decided to lift a ban on the use of helpers during hospitalization, which is currently not allowed, for patients with intractable diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and people with severe disabilities such as those who have suffered spinal cord injuries in accidents. The Ministry has decided to lift the ban on the use of helpers during hospitalization, which is currently not permitted. Since many of these patients are unable to communicate due to their inability to speak or move their bodies, the Ministry aims to enable them to communicate with nurses through the helpers and live a life in hospital with peace of mind.
The MHLW will include the review in the draft amendment to the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act to be submitted to the current Diet session. The MHLW hopes to pass the bill as soon as possible and realize it in FY2018. Among the welfare services for persons with disabilities, the “home-visit care for persons with severe disabilities,” in which a helper visits the homes of patients with intractable diseases or persons with severe disabilities who are paralyzed and need constant care for a long time, will be reviewed so that it can be used even if they are hospitalized due to temporary deterioration of their health condition. The helper watches over the patient and informs the hospital of the patient’s intention, physical condition, or sudden change in condition. Nurses will still be in charge of meals, bathing, turning over, etc. There are approximately 10,000 users of the home-visit nursing care for the elderly.
