Naandi Social Rehabilitation Centre for People with Spinal Injuries

People with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are relegated to living their lives in a dark corner of their house, dependent on their carers for basic activities. dependent on their carers for food, toileting and basic movements… many had withdrawn into themselves, as depression became a secondary disability. This was compounded by untreated wounds, pressure sores, contractures. Persistence pain led to a dependence on pain killers and alcohol. And ripples from their unhappiness and helplessness also found its ways into the larger family. In many cases, the person with spinal cord injuries was also the main bread earner. This economic loss led to wives walking out or having to become bread earners themselves. Their absence led to children being co-opted as carers, and to their dropping out of schools. The mental environment of the house was often a morass of guilt, stress and frustration, compounded by the absence of services and therefore any hope for the future.

While a SCI can lead to immediate medical care, there is little psycho-social support as neither the injured not their families are able to access even basic information about they can continue to manage their lives, post hospitalisation.

Time taken to reach a hospital after the accident is another concern, along with:

·       90% people do not receive medical care

·       33% of spinal cord injured die within a year.

·       Untrained medical professionals are the issues

·       Development of social policies to reduce and rectify the problem is necessary

The residential rehabilitation facilities will be provided for persons with spinal cord injuries to stay at Naandi Social Rehabilitation Centre up to three months, along with their respective caregiver. 

Support areas covered during the 3-months:

• Clinical assessment, individualized rehabilitation planning, therapeutic services, and mobility support, such as wheelchairs, cushion mats, calipers, crutches, walkers and waterbeds

• Transfer of knowledge and skills to the clients and their carers on skin care, bladder and bowel training, bed mobility, balance, transfer from wheelchair to bed to enable them to manage independently post-rehabilitation, hygiene, dressing and managing catheter usage

• Understanding and practicing of upper limb strengthening exercises, trunk and balance exercises, and mobility training

• Professional counselling for clients and their carers

• Orientation on Rights, Disability Acts and social welfare benefits and entitlements

• People with Spinal Injuries receive customised services based on their individual requirements. Also prevented secondary problems.

• People with Spinal Injuries have access to trained staff to ensure that they return to pre SCI status to the degree possible and in the shortest period of time

• People with Spinal Injuries to discover joy and quality of life they had been deprived of since their accident

• Allow People with Spinal Injuries to lead their lives optimally in their homes and community

• Carers and their families discover support for themselves and their households

• People leading mainstream, quality lives, started to earn again, becoming contributing members of their families and the society