In order to better reach our patients and bring our service directly to them, in 2007 we established the rare disease home visit service team, bringing physical therapists, language therapists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, psychology counselors and volunteer workers to patients’ home. In this way, patients who cannot leave their homes can still receive proper care and service.
Patients can submit application to TFRD and our service team will evaluate patients’ condition and send proper therapists to patients’ home. TFRD’s social worker will also accompany the therapist. Normally the service team will pay 6-8 visits per case, subject to the patient’s condition. Besides instructions on rehabilitation skills and self-care skills, service team will also evaluate and improve the assistive technology or facilities such as handrails or non-slip mesh in patients’ homes.
For those patients who need someone to talk to, TFRD will also arrange patients to go with the service team. Sometimes, it is the best for patients to talk to someone who really have experienced and understand the pain they are going through.
Many patients, after receiving service team’s help, have improvements in physical movements (joint activity, flexibility, muscular strengths, pain relief and skills in correctly using assistive technology. For those who accept psychology services, their self-acceptance elevated, and are more willing to accept people outside, even returning to their original job. From these changes, we can see that this service is gradually helping the patients. In 2008, Home visit service was brought to 47 patients and 2 patient family members.
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