Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

‘It’s your problem, not mine’: does competence have anything to do with desire and aspiration to self-direct?

Michelle Crozier A B and Heidi Muenchberger A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Griffith Health Institute and CONROD, Griffith University, Meadowbrook, Qld 4131, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: m.crozier@griffith.edu.au

Australian Health Review 37(5) 621-623 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH13053
Submitted: 7 March 2013  Accepted: 14 July 2013   Published: 11 October 2013

Abstract

The current disability policy paradigm operating across all states in Australia is self-direction. This central movement is closely linked to preparations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme called DisabilityCare. We provide one perspective in relation to self-direction in Australia including assumptions about aspirations to self-direct and the limited research evidence base that is available even though anecdotally self-direction practices have been occurring for many years. We conclude that by developing a funding platform, such as DisabilityCare, that empowers people with a disability to make decisions about their own fundamental needs and the fulfilment of them, it will lead to a society that supports people to access and achieve a ‘typical’ and desired life.


References

[1]  Adelman T, Kitchener M, Ng T, Harrington C. Change and inertia in the New York State Medicaid Personal Care Services program: an institutional case study. J Aging Soc Policy 2012; 24 309–27.
Change and inertia in the New York State Medicaid Personal Care Services program: an institutional case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22720889PubMed |

[2]  Adams JR, Drake RE. Shared decision-making and evidence-based practice. Community Ment Health J 2006; 42 87–105.
Shared decision-making and evidence-based practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16429248PubMed |

[3]  Alakeson V. Self-directed care for adults with serious mental illness: the barriers to progress. Psychiatr Serv 2008; 59 792–4.
Self-directed care for adults with serious mental illness: the barriers to progress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18586997PubMed |

[4]  Alakeson V. International development in self-directed care. Issue Brief. 2010; 78 1–11.
| 20232527PubMed |

[5]  Young HM, Sikma SK. Self-directed care: an evaluation. Policy Polit Nurs Pract 2003; 4 185–95.
Self-directed care: an evaluation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[6]  Matthias RE, Benjamin AE. Abuse and neglect of clients in agency-based and consumer-directed home care. Health Soc Work 2003; 28 174–84.
Abuse and neglect of clients in agency-based and consumer-directed home care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12971281PubMed |

[7]  Low LF, Chilko N, Gresham M, Barter S, Brodaty H. An update on the pilot trial of consumer-directed care for older persons in Australia. Australas J Ageing 2012; 31 47–51.
An update on the pilot trial of consumer-directed care for older persons in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22417154PubMed |

[8]  Cook JA, Shore SE, Burke-Miller JK, Jonikas JA, Ferrara M, Colegrove S, et al Participatory action research to establish self-directed care for mental health. Psychiatr Rehabil J 2010; 34 137–44.
Participatory action research to establish self-directed care for mental health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20952367PubMed |

[9]  Gloag D. Severe disability 2: residential care and living in the community. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985; 290 368–72.
Severe disability 2: residential care and living in the community.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL2M%2FpvVKhsQ%3D%3D&md5=d7da036df345a03ec938560f260f86f8CAS |

[10]  Nirje B. The basis and logic of the normalization principle. J Intellect Dev Disabil 1985; 11 65–8.
The basis and logic of the normalization principle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[11]  Wolfensberger W. A brief introduction to Social Role Valorization: A high-order concept for addressing the plight of societally devalued people, and for structuring human services. Syracuse: Syracuse University; 1998.

[12]  Productivity Commission. Productivity Commission inquiry report: disability care and support. Melbourne: Commonwealth of Australia; 2011.

[13]  Queensland Government. Your life your choice: self-directed support framework. Brisbane: Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services; 2012.

[14]  Department of Human Services. Self-directed planning information sheet. Melbourne: Department of Human Services. Available at http://www.cmag.org.au/assets/files/cis_self_directed_planning_info_sheet_pdf_290609.pdf [verified 23 March 2013]

[15]  Pearson J, Hill S. Evaluation of phase one: self-managed funding initiative. Final Report. Adelaide: Jenny Pearson and Associates; 2012. Available at: http://www.sa.gov.au/upload/entity/1856/dac-documents/individualised-funding/selfmanaged-funding-phase-one-finalreport.doc [verified 23 March 2013]

[16]  Western Australian Government. My life: my way. Self directed supports in Western Australia. Perth: Department of Premier and Cabinet WA; 2011. Available at: http://www.partnershipforum.dpc.wa.gov.au/CurrentProjects/Documents/2087_MY_LIFE_MY_WAY_discussion_paper.pdf [verified 23 March 2013]

[17]  New South Wales Government. Stronger together: a new direction in disability services in New South Wales 2006−2016. Sydney: New South Wales Government; 2010.

[18]  Department of Health and Ageing. Evaluation of the consumer-directed care initiative − appendices. KPMG; 2012.Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/659479336D383B53CA25784F00114B0E/$File/CDC-Eval-Final-Rep-App.pdf [verified 23 March 2013]

[19]  Ottmann G, Laragy C, Haddon M. Experiences of disability consumer-directed care users in Australia: results from a longitudinal qualitative study. Health Soc Care Community 2009; 17 466–75.
Experiences of disability consumer-directed care users in Australia: results from a longitudinal qualitative study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19689678PubMed |

[20]  Ottmann GF, Laragy C. Developing consumer-directed care for people with a disability: 10 lessons for user participation in health and community care policy and program development. Aust Health Rev 2010; 34 390–4.
Developing consumer-directed care for people with a disability: 10 lessons for user participation in health and community care policy and program development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21108897PubMed |

[21]  Alakeson V. Direct dollars. Ment Health Today 2007; 16–8.
| 17387787PubMed |

[22]  Duffy S. The economics of self-directed support. Journal of Integrated Care. 2007; 15 26–37.
The economics of self-directed support.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[23]  Mahoney KJ, Desmond SM, Simon-Rusinowitz L, Loughlin DM, Squillace MR. Consumer preferences for a cash option versus traditional services: telephone survey results from New Jersey elders and adults. J Disabil Policy Stud 2002; 13 75–87.
Consumer preferences for a cash option versus traditional services: telephone survey results from New Jersey elders and adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[24]  Olinzock BJ. A model for assessing learning readiness for self-direction of care in individuals with spinal cord injuries: a qualitative study. SCI Nurs 2004; 21 69–74.
| 15553076PubMed |

[25]  Putnam M, Pickard JG, Rodriguez C, Shear E. Stakeholder perspectives on policies to support family caregivers of older adults with dementia. J Fam Soc Work 2010; 13 173–90.
Stakeholder perspectives on policies to support family caregivers of older adults with dementia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[26]  Sciegaj M, Capitman JA, Kyriacou CK. Consumer-directed community care: race/ethnicity and individual differences for control. Gerontologist 2004; 44 489–99.
Consumer-directed community care: race/ethnicity and individual differences for control.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15331806PubMed |

[27]  Kodner DL. Consumer-directed services: lessons and implications for integrated systems of care. Int J Integr Care 2003; 3 e12
| 16896379PubMed |