SADP Washing & Bathing.

Wobblyjoe

Hi all, hope you are well. Is it worth mentioning that I can only bathe/shower once or twice a week on my application due to the severe pain and fatigue this causes? I know it sounds grim but it's all I can manage.

Spoonie_Turtle

Wobblyjoe said:

Hi all, hope you are well. Is it worth mentioning that I can only bathe/shower once or twice a week on my application due to the severe pain and fatigue this causes? I know it sounds grim but it's all I can manage.

Yes.  You'd reasonably expect to be able to do it every day and the fact you can't is very relevant.

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/asset-storage/production/downloads/33.-Reliability-criteria-for-Adult-Disability-Payment.pdf

"26. It is important to also consider the impact completing the activity has on the individual. This requires consideration to be given to how a person feels both during and after carrying an activity out. Impact should take into account a range factors including (but not limited to) pain, discomfort, breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety caused to the client. An activity which may otherwise be completed to an acceptable standard would become unacceptable if a client has to put up with pain, discomfort, etc,  while carrying it out.  The question to be answered by the case manager is, does the impact of completing the activity mean that it is not being completed to an acceptable standard. 

27. For example, an individual may be able to fully dress themselves. But if doing so causes them to become so out of breath that they need to rest afterwards, then they would not be able to dress to an acceptable standard.  {Or for you, in pain / fatigued}
…

34. Where the act of completing the activity leads to the individual being unable to repeat the activity (where reasonably expected to do so) they are unlikely to be considered able to complete the task repeatedly and a higher descriptor may be more appropriate.   
…

36. As well as considering whether tasks can be repeated within a day, consideration should also be given to whether an individual is able to repeat a task on subsequent days. For example, an individual may be able to fulfil the ‘moving around’ criteria one day, but the exertion of doing so means they’re unable to do so the following day. This individual would therefore not be able to repeatedly complete the activity."

One thing to consider is whether any aids or physical help from someone would enable you you do it more often - whether the answer is yes or no, include it and the explanation why/why not.  That way they have full information to enable them to choose an appropriate descriptor and not just assume that aids/physical help would be enough.

[And you're not the only one.  Many of us can only manage once or twice a week at most.  I know a few people who can only manage a bedbath once a week, and it takes them the entire week to recover enough for the next one. 
There's no shame in not being well enough to keep as clean as you would like, it's not a choice you've made.]