Florence, a 75 yr old lady, has been admitted to hospital following a Left Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke - resulting in a right sided weakness, a receptive and expressive dysphasia, an impaired swallow and a cognitive impairment (delayed processing and apraxia). At present she is deemed to have capacity.
Florence is having regular therapy on the ward, including sitting balance work but requires a full hoist in order to get out of the bed to sit in a highly supportive chair. She is at risk of developing pressure areas, aspiration pneumonia, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and other complications.
As part of Florence’s therapy, she is having joint Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy sessions to work on sitting balance, as well as meal assessments when sat in the chair to optimise her oral intake.
Florence usually appears content and settled when in the chair, engaging with her immediate environment well.
Florence is unable to consent or decline to treatment verbally, but has been compliant with therapy throughout previous sessions and is able to follow simple commands within context to the task.
You are an Occupational Therapist on the Stroke Unit where this patient is being cared for. You go to see her at 11.30 (lunch is served at 12.00 ) for joint Occupational Therapy/ Physiotherapy session. The aim of this session is to sit Florence out in the chair for lunch.
When rolling, Florence appears agitated and distressed and attempts to push out of the roll when you insert the hoist sling.
Do you continue with the intended therapeutic intervention and sit Florence out for lunch despite her resistance?
It is proposed that you continue with the procedure and sit Florence out for lunch.