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Learning is the thing
Rehabilitation is an educational, not a medical process. The primary "function"
of rehabilitation is learning to get back into the swim - not diagnosis and
treatment. The New Rehabilitation is based on DeJong’s independent living (IL) paradigm
(see:
IndependentLivingPhilosophy.doc (127kb)
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and requires that health professionals let go and support rather than control.
The IL model is consumer controlled, opens up a new range of research
opportunities, and the rehab process is driven by high quality information
for the recovering person.
The Independent Living paradigm implies that....
- It is great to be alive even with profound disability.
- Creativity, "use it or lose it", is manifest in good rehabilitation and in independent living.
- Compassion creates dependency, but love (sometimes tough) is good for independence.
- Needs are best assessed by the person, not the professional.
- Rehabilitation is a generic process and is the same in principle for all kinds of impairment.
- Needs and reasonable expectations are best evaluated while considering other people’s needs.
- Differing health needs are difficult to prioritise and within a health service the squeaky wheel gets the oil and the loudest squeakers are not rehabilitation services.
- Cognitive impairment requires that families assume the role of major stakeholder in outcome. The roles of professionals and providers as "watch-dogs" are enhanced.
- Recovery is demanding and learning to "take charge" again places extra strains and stresses on family, friends, caregivers and professionals. When successfully back in the swim and happy and financially secure, the person has more time to think of others and can be a delight to be with. Unsuccessful rehabilitation tends to produce dependent, demanding and angry people, who become pains in the butt of everybody who has the misfortune to run into them.
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