Saturday 7th October is Stoma Aware Day. Herts Ability are proud to be Stoma Aware and support individuals living with a Stoma. Indeed, with two of our staff members being Ostomates, we are fully aware of how living with a stoma can affect day to day life!
You may ask, how would having a Stoma affect independence and mobility?
The answer is ‘Social Exclusion’.
So, what is social exclusion and how does it relate to people living with a stoma?
Social exclusion can be defined as ‘The exclusion of part of society from ‘any of the social, economic, political and cultural systems which determine the social integration of a person in society’.
Research shows that, for many people living with a stoma in the UK, a combination of a lack of suitable toilet facilities, and lack of awareness limits their ability to do many of the things that much of society will take for granted, leading to them feeling socially excluded.
Here’s some facts to support this statement:
62% of respondents believe a lack of suitable toilet facilities impacts on their daily life, limiting their ability to do many of the things we take for granted such as going to the shops, the theatre, or a coffee with friends. This figure is significantly higher than the 20% of the general public that the Royal Society for Public Health reported in 2019, are put off venturing from their homes as often as they would like due to a concern over lack of toilets
25% are also worried about using an accessible toilet having previously been verbally or physically abused for doing so, as their disability/ condition is hidden. This behaviour from others can lead to mental health issues and isolation for the individual
22% believe a lack of general awareness of stomas, and the day to day challenges of managing their stoma impacts on their daily life
4% do not go out due to worries about being able to manage their stomas!
Did you know? When it comes to our services, we have a fully accessible toilet, with all the facilities required by people living with a stoma.
Regular breaks can be put into any of our assessments, to allow clients to be as comfortable as possible.
For clients attending a driving assessment, we’ll help you get comfortable in the car, especially if you’re concerned about the seatbelt.
Most importantly, our staff care. They care about you!
Be #StomaAware this October, and please remember, not all disabilities are visible! Head here for more information.
