Aid - Taking Nutrition

Hi Lake

Interesting question, you would need to explain why you have to use this type of cutlery.

Cutlery comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, I have round handled cutlery as well as oblong handled cutlery, I don't like the round handle ones as they can spin in my hand when putting pressure on them.

Gary

Hi Lake,
Anything potentially can be an aid/appliance -this is something you use to improve impaired function. It doesn't have to be an official disability gadget that you might buy in a shop, it can be something you have either made yourself or hacmve refurbished from something else. You would need to show you have a relevant disability and hiw using the lightweight children's cutlery helps, how dies it make you take nutrition easier, why do you need to use them, why can't you use normal cutlery. If you need to use these eg due to deformed hands then photos sent to DWP might help. However, my main concern is that DWP might simply say well it's still cutlery, and hence not an aid etc. If you use normal cutlery what happens, can you cut food, do you spill food? Do you eat properly to an acceptable standard? Maybe using children's cutlery suggests you don't?
Consider whether you need help to cut up food. I assume children's cutlery isn't very sharp so how do you cope with meat or chunks of veg? (If you avoid these you might need physical help.)
I hope this helps.
LL26

Hi Lake

You could argue it comes under 1d and 2d but you would have to explain why....

The why part of the argument is the important bit, for instance, did you explain why you used children cutlery?

The descriptor for taking nutrition states;2a) can take nutrition unaided.

There is no mention of cutlery or size of cutlery, some people can only use a spoon, you need to explain why, this why can also relate to other questions such as washing or getting dressed.

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say 'in my opinion' you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said., remember they are just an opinion which is not based on fact.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

Your primary task is to show that you meet the criteria, there are many reasons you may have failed, you need to address each of these but don't get bogged down in criticising the assessment report unless you can clearly show that it is incorrect, it is a lot easier to argue the facts of the situation;

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors.

Gary

Regarding eating disorders and preparing food. I advised a client who had phobias about cooking. Unfortunately one of her teenage children had anorexia, and wouldn't eat, the other had an overeating problem. Meal times became so stressy that the client developed cooking phobia, she would get physically ill just thinking about cooking! She was awarded 8 points because she could not cook.
OK your own case may not be so extreme but clearly you can get points under descriptor 1 for mental health problems. Many people with depression lack interest in food hence need prompting and can claim points. As per Gary, it is really a matter of how you argue these things.
Make your you clearly explain why you need help or prompting, and what happens if you don't get this help etc
I hope this helps.
LL26