PIP washing

Hi Eggcustard

These things are not always as clear but as they perhaps should be.

If someone can take a bath, but not a shower and they indicate that both are available to them, a claimant would need to explain which they use for the majority of the time and why they only need an aid for one. If they can't stand in a shower and there is a risk of falling - is there not an equal chance they could fall getting in and out of a bath. Even if the claimant doesn't currently have an aid - they might want to consider one and put it in as something they are investigating.

You will struggle to argue that if the bed wasn't there a claimant would have to lie on the floor to dress, because the bed is there and even people without medical conditions sometimes sit on their bed to dress and its considered a reasonable adjustment to make/ What a claimant needs to argue is the difficulties they experience in dressing. Are they affected by dizziness, pain, poor joint movement, lack of motivation to dress etc? And then describe how the particular symptoms might lead them to needing an aid, or help from another person regardless of whether they are currently in place. Also cover any safety or reliability factors.

BIS

Hi Eggcustard

You need to explain the difficulties you have in carrying out this task. Do you have grab rails to help you or a third party to help you in and out of the bath?

Do you have difficulty getting in/out of the bath, do you use a shower over the bath or a cubical? Why do you use a bath board? Do you have issues washing your lower half of body and washing hair because of level of pain, weakness and restricted movement in your spine, upper and lower limbs; with associated restrictions bending, raising your arms and poor grip.

Are you able to complete this task on your own. Does it takes you a long time and does it results in exacerbations of pain and fatigue.

For PIP activities must be completed reliably, this means

• Safely – in a fashion that is unlikely to cause harm to themselves or to another person.
• To a necessary and appropriate standard – given the nature of the activity.
• Repeatedly – as often as is reasonably required.
• In a timely manner – in a reasonable time period.

Gary