Understanding Conditions and Impairments

Characteristics of the Chosen Condition/Impairment

A condition is a sickness or disease. Impairment is any loss or abnormality of the mind or body, such as loss of sight. Here are some examples of conditions or impairments: addiction diabetes dementia sensory impairment mental illness physical disability Choose a condition or impairment that is relevant to your role or people you work alongside. You will be asked about real people affected by this condition or impairment later in the assessment- What is the condition or impairment you have chosen? Characteristics A characteristic is a special feature or trait of something that makes it distinctive from others. Co-existing factors mean conditions, impairments or social issues that happen at the same time as the person’s primary or main issue. For example, someone with a sensory impairment may also be affected by isolation. What are the characteristics of the condition or impairment you have chosen? Think about causes, different types, risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatments or supports for the social issue or situation. Your answer must include: possible causes risk factors common co-existing factors: o   at least one co-existing condition/impairment at least one co-existing social issue/situation Demographics of the condition or impairment Demographics identify certain groups of people. Demographic information could include age, gender, location, ethnicity or other information that is relevant and meaningful. What demographics in Aotearoa are currently affected by this condition or impairment? When you find the information you need, you may choose to present it in a table, graph, describe it in words or do a combination of these. If you’re presenting information in a graph or table, you should also explain in words what it shows. If you find a table or a graph already in a document, note where you got it from. You can find examples of how demographics may be presented in Step 3 of the Presentation Guide in this module Holistic impacts of the condition or impairment Holistic means considering all aspects of hauora or wellbeing. This may include physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects, plus anything else important to a person’s wellbeing. Examples of wellbeing models: Te Whare Tapa Wh? Te Wheke Te Pae M?hutonga Choose a real person (or people) affected by this condition or impairment. What are the holistic impacts for this person or people affected by this condition or impairment? You may choose to use a wellbeing model to address wellbeing holistically. You can find examples of how this information may be presented in Step 4 of the Presentation Guide. What needs might that person or people have because of these impacts?