Occupational Therapist Laura Proctor had endured a terrible pervious year with two major health issues. Just as she was getting her life back on track she tripped, broke her foot and all seemed lost.
It’s fair to say that last year was one to forget for Laura. She had a major health issue that required surgery and she also ended up with concussion, both of which demanded long periods of careful recovery.
As a self-employed Occupational Therapist with a busy, rural client base, these setbacks meant she was unable to help her clients or properly earn a living. So, in February this year when she was recovered enough to restart her practice, the relief was immense. But when bad luck’s got a hold of you, sometimes it won’t let go. No sooner was she back on the road to her clients than she tripped and fell badly, fracturing her right foot. Driving was now impossible.
‘My mood really dropped,’ recalls Laura ‘It felt like a kick in the face. Where I am (Amberley Beach in North Canterbury) there’s no public transport. There’s not even any taxis. Because it’s a rural area, visiting clients can mean driving long distances between appointments. And even if I’m working in the city, it can be a one to two-hour drive and then seeing three or four clients in different places.’
Trying to do this using taxis would be not only impractical, it would be ludicrously expensive. With Laura’s finances battered by the previous year’s setbacks, and the baseline for ACC compensation now much lower, she was genuinely worried about her and her partner’s financial future.
It wasn’t the only source of anxiety. Many of Laura’s clients are 65+, often with limited mobility. She also supports her parents, who are in their mid 70’s, and live 5km away. If Laura, once again, was unable to provide the occupational therapy they needed, it was going to affect them badly too. ‘A lot of what I do is functional rehab,’ explains Laura. ‘It’s hands-on, there’s sometimes a lot of equipment involved. It’s not the sort of thing that you coach someone to do then they can do it themselves.’
Luckily, as an OT, Laura knew about hand-control cars. So, it didn’t take her long to piece together a plan. She got a quote from Freedom Mobility and approached ACC directly about getting one, making clear the overwhelming benefits. ‘I could go straight back to work, which would mean ACC didn’t have to support me. And the cost was way less than other transport options or paying compensation. Best of all, I could get around and help my clients. Along with all the other benefits like getting to the shops, helping family and so on.’
Laura’s case manager soon saw the sense in what she was suggesting. So, as usual, we dropped the car off at her place. Our South Island superhero, Ange, then showed Laura around the controls and, after a bit of instruction, she was soon driving confidently. ‘I was a bit nervous at first,’ says Laura. ‘But once I’d got the hang of it it all went well. Super smooth.’
Laura’s story perfectly encapsulates why a hand-control car often makes much more sense than other transport options. By getting Laura back earning a living, enabling her clients’ needs to be met and saving ACC plenty of money, it’s a win-win-win for everyone involved.
So, if you experience any injury that means driving a normal car isn’t possible, even if you’re not quite in Laura’s situation, have a real think about your transport needs. It could be a hand-control car is a much better, more cost-effective solution. Talk about it with ACC and get in touch with us for any help or information you need.
