Daily living component activity 5 descriptor E (6 points)
Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel.
Who it applies to
Daily living component activity 5 descriptor E is most likely to apply to an individual who has needs relating to physical and / or cognitive conditions.
Daily living component activity 5 descriptor E may apply to an individual who has a catheter, incontinence bag or stoma bag and needs help to manage these devices for either their bladder or their bowel function. For example, an individual who needs assistance to change a stoma bag.
The process of learning to manage an incontinence device would usually be considered to take a short period of time.
If this was the only reason preventing self-management of the incontinence device, then daily living component activity 5 descriptor E would not usually apply.
Example: an individual with epilepsy and a learning difficulty, who satisfies daily living component activity 5 descriptor E
Application form
Luke has epilepsy and a learning difficulty.
When he has seizures, as noted in a letter from an epilepsy nurse, he experiences bladder incontinence so wears incontinence underpants.
The letter explains that he can have a seizure once a day and that these are usually triggered by anxiety.
He does not lose control of his bowels, but he needs help with cleaning himself after he’s been to the toilet.
In his Adult Disability payment (ADP) application form that was completed by his sister, it notes that every time he has a seizure, he experiences bladder incontinence and needs to be helped to change his underpants by someone else.
He does not understand that he needs to change his wet underpants.
Case manager’s decision
As Luke does not understand that he has to change his underwear when it’s wet and because he experiences bladder incontinence when he has a seizure, he needs help from someone else.
He also needs help to clean himself after using the toilet.
The case manager determines that Luke satisfies daily living component activity 5 descriptor E, because of the assistance he needs to manage bladder incontinence.