Daily living component activity 4 descriptor E (3 points)
Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of an un-adapted bath or shower.
Daily living component activity 4 descriptor E describes physical assistance from another person and may be applied as a hypothetical test to consider whether an individual needs assistance to get into and out of either one of an un-adapted bath, or an un-adapted shower.
Examples of un-adapted baths and showers
Un-adapted baths and showers include the following:
- a shower over a bath
- a shower cubicle (a partitioned area with a threshold or ledge to step over)
- a shower attachment on bath taps
Assistance
An individual who is unable to access either one of an un-adapted bath or shower without assistance from another person is likely to satisfy daily living component activity 4 descriptor E.
Reasonably required
Even if the individual does not have a wet room shower, if its use is reasonably required, it should be considered as evidence that an individual is unable to get into an un-adapted shower.
Example: an individual with a prosthetic limb, who satisfies daily living component activity 4 descriptor E
Application form
Riva had an amputation of her left leg below the knee, following a car accident a year ago. She wears a prosthetic limb when she walks but notes on her application for ADP that she is unable to wear this when she showers. Along with her application she has included a hospital discharge letter, that shows she had her leg amputated below the knee.
In her application, she explains that because she has one foot, she finds it difficult to get into a shower cubicle and must be careful because she has to hop into the shower. She notes that a number of times she has done this and slipped over, on one occasion she was knocked unconscious and had to go to hospital. She says that she can get in and out of the bath because she uses a bath board and she is able to wash her whole body.
As Riva has one foot, it means that she cannot get in or out of the shower in a safe manner and although she can wash her whole body and access the bath using an aid, she needs help to be safe when using the shower.
Case manager’s decision
The case manager determines that Riva satisfies daily living component activity 4 descriptor E, because she requires assistance from another person to make sure that she is able to access the shower in a safe and acceptable manner.