Amanda back with family after 12-month battle for care package
By Mary Dennehy
AFTER a 12-month battle for a home care package, Amanda Denton is back with her family - who have raised their concerns around the practice of placing people with brain injuries into nursing homes.
Living in Jobstown, Amanda Denton experienced severe brain trauma after she fell down stairs in May 2014.
The accident resulted in the mother-of-four undergoing serious brain surgery, after which she lay in a coma for six months.
Back in 2015, her partner Tommy Lee started a nationwide appeal for Amanda, who he believed had been left wasting away in a hospital bed while she waited for a place in the National Rehabilitation Hospital [NRH].
Since Tommy’s appeal, Amanda was placed on a 12-week NRH rehabilitation programme.
However, last year her family faced another battle after Amanda was placed in a nursing home despite her loved ones wanting to care for her at home.
In order to bring Amanda home, a home care package was necessary.
However, despite South Dublin County Council providing Tommy and Amanda with a specially adapted two-bed bungalow in Jobstown in November 2016, it took around 12 months for the HSE to award a home care package.
That home care package was recently granted and Amanda, who was being cared for part-time at home, returned to her family for good last Friday.
“We were only looking for 10.5 hours but they gave us 19.5,” Tommy told The Echo.
“A nurse visits for two hours every morning, seven days a week, and also for a few hours on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening to help get Amanda ready for bed.
“We are obviously very grateful for the support but have been waiting a year for it.”
He added: “The process in this country doesn’t work, people with brain injuries should not be thrown into nursing homes.
“When our health system hears brain injury they think nursing home, no one thinks that the person can be cared for at home – which for Amanda is a much better option.
“At home I tell her that she can do stuff, she’s not made to feel that she’s not worth it.
“Also, the amount of money that was spent on keeping Amanda in a nursing home for all those months could have been better spent getting Amanda really good rehab.”
Tommy is hoping to raise money in the coming months to send Amanda to Germany for rehab, as he believes she has been “denied” proper treatment since her accident.
Despite the struggles of recent years, the family was looking forward last Friday, when Amanda arrived home to a celebratory party.
“It was brilliant when Amanda got home and we had a party in the house to celebrate,” Tommy said.
“Amanda was in great form and didn’t want to go to bed!
“Being at home makes a big difference to Amanda, she even helped me clean up after the party.”
The Echo has in the past sent questions to the HSE concerning Amanda’s case however, a reply has not being received.
Clondalkin councillor Francis Timmons also made representation on behalf of the family to the HSE.
The Independent councillor told The Echo that the HSE Disability Services informed him that “significant restrictions of resources and funding” resulted in the care package request not been met.
Follow Amanda’s story on the Help Amanda Denton get Rehabilitation Facebook page.
