An ex-ballerina who was previously considered one of the best classical dancers in the UK during part of the 1980′s, suffers indignity as court rules she must lose night carer. Elaine McDonald is a 67-year old ex-ballerina who one was the prima ballerina of the Scottish Ballet. She has danced the leads in many ballets including Gisella, La Sylphide, Mary Queen of Scots and Cinderella. In 1983 Ms McDonald received an OBE for her dancing, something rarely seen outside of the Royal Ballet. Following a stroke in September 1999 Ms McDonald was left with impaired mobility and has since required the need to have carers attend to some of her needs. One of those needs is help during the night to use the commode thanks to a neurogenic bladder. Having this type of bladder, which is caused by the stroke, means that Ms McDonald feels the urge to use the bathroom several times throughout the night. Up until recently she was able to manage this with the help of a night carer who would assist her to the commode during the night. The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea decided to revoke the provision of this night carer last November, saving themselves an estimated £22,000 and claiming that this, along with their new plan for Ms McDonald, would work out safer for her by reducing the risk of her coming to physical harm as she used the commode. The council plans to provide Ms McDonald with continence pads and absorbent sheets for her bed. In effect, Ms McDonald, who is considered continent and can use a commode, will during the night be forced to urinate and defecate herself as she is unable to get to the commode without her carer. Ms McDonald took her fight to the courts and eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. In judgement they decided 4-1 to back the decision of the borough council and remove the provision of a night carer for Ms McDonald. The judgement raises concerns about her human rights and about the issue of dignity. Age UK intervened in the court case and their Charity Director Michelle Mitchell said after Wednesday’s judgement, “Today’s decision is shameful. Older people have a fundamental right to dignity and forcing someone to sleep in their own urine and faeces could not be more undignified. “This judgement opens the door to warehousing older people in their own homes without regard to their quality of life. “Care should not be just about keeping people safe. It must enable them to live dignified and fulfilled lives.”
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