Daily living component activity 4 descriptor B (2 points)
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe.
Who it’s most likely to apply to
Daily living component activity 4 descriptor B is most likely to apply to an individual whose needs relate to their physical abilities.
Who it’s unlikely to apply to
Needs relating to mental health difficulties and conditions, for example motivation to wash or bathe are usually unlikely to satisfy daily living component activity 4 descriptor B. In this case daily living component activity 4 descriptor C may be more appropriate.
Examples of aids and appliances for washing and bathing
Aids or appliances used to assist an individual to manage washing or bathing may include but are not limited to the following items:
- bath board
- long handled sponge
- non-slip mat(s)
- grab rail(s)
- foot brush
- shower seat
Examples of an individual’s use of aids or appliances for the purposes of daily living component activity 4 descriptor B may include but are not limited to the following:
- a long-handled sponge to wash parts of the body that an individual living with no needs relating to their physical abilities could access independently
- a grab rail in the bath where an individual has issues with balance, stability or upper body strength
- a shower seat where an individual has difficulty standing for the time taken to shower
- a shower seat that an individual with a condition such as epilepsy needs for safety reasons so that if they have a seizure they do not fall as far to the floor
Example: an individual with sciatica, who satisfies daily living component activity 4 descriptor B
Marcus has sciatica that causes pain in his lower back. He has completed his ADP application form and notes that he has experienced back pain for many years. He attends a pain clinic every 6 months and discusses pain-relieving medications with them. He currently takes a regular painkiller which is partially effective in relieving his pain, but still has difficulty with some movements, especially if he has to stand up for long periods of time.
Supporting information
He has included a letter from a specialist pain clinic nurse. It states that he cannot stand for more than 5 minutes at a time without his pain increasing and having to sit down again. It also states that he has been given a perching stool for the kitchen and a shower stool for the bathroom, so that he doesn’t have to stand for long periods of time.
As Marcus has difficulties with standing for long periods, and this activity requires standing for at least 5 minutes to have a shower, it is reasonable that Marcus would be restricted by his pain. The case manager considers his ability to use a bath which is not noted explicitly. It is probable that he can get in and out of the bath because there is no limb weakness noted and that he can sit in the bottom of the bath as his pain is increased when standing.
Case manager’s decision
The case manager determines that Marcus satisfies daily living component activity 4 descriptor B because he requires the aid of a shower stool to relieve his pain whilst standing to allow him to complete this activity to an acceptable standard.