Useful Resources for Finding Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Care in Cape Town

It’s important to spend time researching and finding paraplegic and quadriplegic care in Cape Town. We hope these links and resources will help you choose the best available option, given your needs and budget.

As a starting point, consider whether home-based or residential care is needed.

What to consider: home-based care for paraplegia or quadriplegia

A carer or carers may live in or come in when required. It’s essential to find carers who can manage the specific needs of a paraplegic or quadriplegic person.

Advantages of home care

The main advantage of home-based care is that it enables the person who needs care to stay in a familiar environment.

Home-based care is usually less expensive than residential care, especially if there isn’t a need for 24-hour care.

That said, it may require structural changes within the home to accommodate a wheelchair/other equipment and allow access to all rooms.

Potential disadvantages

Disadvantages of home-based care include the risk of a carer not arriving, challenges associated with organising care during public holidays/annual leave and having to provide carers with meals.

If 24-hour care is needed, a team of carers will be required. Managing a team is time-consuming and complex.

In this case, an agency with multiple carers on its database and experience in providing home care may be the best solution.

Cape Town home-care providers

If you’ve decided on home-based care in Cape Town, a good starting point is to investigate the following well-known agencies:

• Cape Care: offers “holistic” carers (not nurses), who enable people to stay living in their homes on a full or part-time basis. A carer can be hired for between three and 24 hours a day.
• Care Champ: offers expert support and home care for adults and children with disabilities, including people with paraplegia and quadriplegia.
• HFN Nursing Agency: provides fully trained, experienced carers,enrolled nursing assistants and enrolled nurses for care and support in the home.
• Robin Trust: offers sub-acute/step-down care after hospitalisation, home care and frail care.

Even if you decide to hire carers independently, it’s worth having an agency as a backup. This is useful in case you need last-minute support – for example, if a carer is ill.

What to consider: residential care for paraplegia or quadriplegia

Residential care homes that offer care for paraplegics and quadriplegics should be fully equipped to meet special needs.

Advantages of residential care

It’s common to underestimate the stress and difficulty involved in managing home-based care for someone with a disability.

The key advantage of residential care – provided you find a suitable home – is knowing that a person is fully and properly cared for, 24/7.

Potential disadvantages

The standard of care provided – and the costs – vary significantly among different residential care homes.

When choosing a home, check for reviews online. Ask around for personal recommendations too. Healthcare providers, social workers, other patients and their families are all possible sources of advice.

It’s also important to inspect a home in person to get a feel for it.

The best homes tend to be expensive. However, price doesn’t always correlate to standard of care.

Be prepared for the fact that many residential care homes have waiting lists. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll secure a place at all – or you might have to wait months.

Cape Town residential care providers

It’s worth conducting a Google search for facilities in your local area that offer frail care. Then narrow down your shortlist by checking which of these facilities can cater for someone with your unique needs.

The following resources are useful if you’re looking for day care or full-time residential care for an adult with a disability.

• The Western Cape Government provides a comprehensive list of residential facilities for persons with disabilities in the Western Cape. It also provides a list of Western Cape facilities that offer day care for adults. This may be an option if you can provide the required support after work hours but care is needed during the day.
• com provides a list of nursing homes and frail care centres in and around Cape Town.
• The Robin Trust offers sub-acute/step-down care for after hospitalisation, as well as home-based care, frail care and training of caregivers.
• BADISA offers counselling and referrals by social workers, home-based and residential care, day care, plus care and development programmes.

Quadriplegic homes/self-help centres

The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is the most prominent organisation in South Africa representing the interests of people who have suffered a spinal-cord injury and are living with physical disability. QASA strives to develop products, programmes and services to help its members integrate into society.

Through its homes, it aims to help as many people as possible to live independently from their families. The Durbanville Quadriplegic Centre is an example of such a home in the Western Cape.

What to consider when choosing a residential care facility

When you’re looking for a residential care facility for someone with paraplegia or quadriplegia, there are a number of factors to consider.

You must feel relaxed and comfortable in the home during your visit. The staff should be welcoming but professional. The facility should be clean and organised.

Time a visit during meal time. Check out the food and dining arrangements. Ask to speak to some of the residents about their experiences.

Get answers to these questions from the facility’s management:

• Does the home have experience with the specific disability your loved one has? Can it cater for the relevant needs?
• Does the home have emergency medical facilities on site? If not, is there a hospital or ER close by?
• How many residents are there in the facility and how many carers are available, during the day and at night?
• Is there always a qualified nurse on duty?

Useful South African organisations for paraplegics, quadriplegics and people with disabilities

The following resources may provide advice about finding suitable care, along with other helpful information and services:

• QuadPara Association Western Cape: a non-profit organisation that aims to improve the lives of, and fight for the rights of, quadriplegics and paraplegics in the Western Cape.
• Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities: an organisation that offers care and a range of support services for those with disabilities.
• Disability info South Africa: a website that provides information on a broad range of topics for people with disabilities, including paraplegia and quadriplegia.
• United Spinal Association Spinal Cord Help Desk: an association that offers a list of resources to help people who have suffered spinal-cord injuries.