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Aquatherapy not allowed for people with ostomy!! Help

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Posted 7/29/2014 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
My elderly cousin was told the state of Maryland doesn't allow people with ostomies in aqua therapy pools. She urgently needs aqua therapy, can't bear weight on her feet. How can we fight this with the therapy place?

It was hard enough to find somewhere with a hoist that could get her into the pool from her wheelchair but now this.
Posted 7/29/2014 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not very litigious, but I'd call a lawyer ASAP- at least then you can get clarification on the law. I can't imagine that to be true, honestly. Do some digging on the internet, threaten the therapy place with a lawsuit, ask them to show you the supposed law...
Posted 7/29/2014 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Now the receptionist has told me that it's the ATI company policy. First she said it was county or state. This company has facilities in several states. I understand the concerns but if I put a new appliance on her the evening before and clean it out well before going to therapy I think it would be safe.
I wish I hadn't mentioned the ostomy.
Posted 7/30/2014 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
I had no problems swimming with a bag. For my own sense of security I used an ostomy swim belt from Ostomy Secrets but I never needed it. I would talk to the manager and perhaps the owner. Ostomies are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It sounds like a situation fed by ignorant paranoia. If necessary her surgeon can write the company a note. My surgeon wrote one for me. The note stated that I had absolutely no restrictions on my physical abilities and should have full access to all facilities. The note was my surgeon's idea. My club's manager was familiar with Ostomies and had no concerns.
Posted 7/30/2014 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
I have been seeing signs at pools lately that say you can't swim if you have had diarrhea in the past two weeks. I think that's strange. Who is going to know you had it or stop you from swimming if you did have it? and what can you possibly get from a pool where a person who had diarrhea swam two weeks ago? It's chlorinated... I guess I just don't know the facts on this but I would think with a bag and with a colon, it stays inside. It's not like people are getting poop in the pool. Gosh that really sucks, I hope it works out.
Posted 7/31/2014 9:47 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe this PDF article will help?

Stomas, Ostomies and Appliances: Implications for Aquatic Therapy svosg.org/documents/AquaticJournalsept2006.pdf

In the end it puts forward a case as to why ostomates are actually far less likely to cause contamination of swimming and therapy pools than those who are anatomically correct.
Posted 8/1/2014 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, great article.
Posted 8/3/2014 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I have seen a few other people post the same thing. If a pool said a person with an artificial leg or someone in a wheelchair couldn't swim it would be all over the news. People don't understand how ostomies work and they freak out. Try explaining it and if that doesn't work contact the people who run the American s with disabilities group or something like that. I bet even rhe threat of that will get them to change their minds.
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