View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

-DISABILITY GRANT
The disability grant is important even if the person is not a breadwinner because the
prosthesis and rehabilitation aids undergo wear and tear and therefore require maintenance.
Not all amputees received disability grants before or after discharge:
• The results reveal that (14) 56% amputees received disability grants.
• Eleven (II) 44% did not receive disability grants but the application procedure was
started while the amputees were still in the hospital It is the responsibility of the
social worker to follow up the processing of these disability grants once the
application has been submitted.
-HOUSING AND BARRIERS EXPERIENCED BY AMPUTEES
It was found in this study that the houses that were used by the amputees were not suitable for
adaptation ofthe amputees after discharge from the hospital:
• Eighty percent (80%) amputees reported that their houses were very small, did not
allow free movement, especially for bilateral amputees as they were using
wheelchairs, there were no driveways, and even those that were there were handmade
and became very muddy and slippery on rainy days, thus confining the amputees to
the bouse.
• Four (4) 16% amputees reported that the toilets were outside, very far from the houses
and therefore inaccessible.
• Five (5) 20% amputees responded that their houses were suitable for their adaptation.
Four (4) 16% of these amputees had upper limb amputations and (1)4% of these
amputees had a house that was modified with the assistance of the family. No
assistance was received from the Department ofHousing.
-ASSESSMENT OF THE AMPUTEES READll\;X;SS FOR COMl\'IUNITY
REINTEGRATION
Amputees have to be physically and psychologically prepared to be introduced into the
community:
94