Millions of people of varying ages live with a disability and will subsequently need a little extra support in daily life. Still, many people living with disabilities can enjoy a healthy and happy life with independence.
As a loved one, though, you are eager to ensure that the right features are in place to support a better quality of life. Let’s take a look at some of the most important steps to take at this time:
Help Manage Their Care Plan
If you have a loved one living with a disability, they are entitled to care support. However, they will need to complete an application for funding and find an efficient distribution plan. You can help them through this process with the help of a support coordinator to ensure that the very best level of care is arranged. This instantly provides a winning platform to build a better life.
In addition to securing the right type of care from high-quality caregivers, care plans can evolve over time. As such, the professional care will always align with the individual’s requirements. Your loved one may need daily support or a weekly visit. Either way, getting the necessary help in the areas where they struggle can enable them to keep living at home.
Help Around The Home
While your loved one may be capable of handling most tasks, a disability can cause some challenges for maintaining the home. A lack of mobility or cognitive function may either make it impractical or painful. In some cases, attempting assignments alone may even put the individual’s safety at risk. Completing a few basic tasks on their behalf is an ideal way to help.
If keeping the home tidy is a challenge for you, these spring cleaning hacks will allow you to restore order even when short of time. Another option is to batch-cook some meals for them to have during the week. As well as being a great chance to know that your loved one is OK, this presents an excuse to spend more time with them. Frankly, that’s the best aspect for you both.
Support Skills Development
Whether someone lives with a physical or mental disability, learning new skills is vital. It provides the competence and confidence to do more for themselves. Whether this means choosing better self-care, finding employment, or enjoying a better social life doesn’t matter. Any opportunity to learn new skills should be embraced with open arms.
Your loved one is more than capable of learning new skills but may require a helping hand in getting started. You can help by finding courses for beginners on using social media or selecting a suitable driving instructor. There may be local community colleges and other institutions for your loved one to continue their education. Your support and research can get them started.
Find Community Events
Inclusion is a key ingredient in the recipe for a happy life and is something we all deserve. Living with a disability can often present barriers, logistically and emotionally. Once again, though, the opportunities are out there. Nevertheless, discovering them may be a challenge for some. Your role as researcher could make all the difference in identifying local opportunities.
Group events provide added structure while presenting an outlet to make friendships. In living at home rather than in 24/7 care, the potential for loneliness is a potential issue. With one or two social events, alongside visits from carers and family members, should stop this from becoming an issue. They can also help unearth passions while building confidence and communication.
Research Assistive Living Technologies
Tech advancements have improved many aspects of our lives. The right products can certainly make life easier for anyone living with a disability. However, no two people living with a disability will have identical requirements. Once again, then, a little research into the different options is essential. Aside from improving your loved one’s life, the right tech can put your mind at ease.
Gadgets could include wearables or products for the home. Hearing aids that connect to telephones or other devices through Bluetooth are a great example. Some people living with disabilities also need home features to aid mobility and accessibility. Gadgets like fall sensors may also be needed, ensuring that a quick response is made in emergencies.
Support Them In Their Passions
After health, happiness is the most important metric to consider. Many people living with disabilities are hindered by the fact that their support network focuses on the condition. Learning to appreciate the person behind the disability changes everything. Not least when you encourage them to lean into their passions. We are all happier when doing the things we love.
If there is a passion that can be enjoyed from home, adapting the property to support this could make a huge difference. This could mean having a designated area for creative tasks. More importantly, independent living should be built on independent decision-making. When your loved one is empowered to create the life that they want, success should follow.
Help Them Manage Goals
When a person is living with a disability, it is important to acknowledge that it will cause an impact. Therefore, it may be necessary to adjust goals and processes. Setting realistic goals for what can be achieved, especially in terms of independent living, is vital. Following this, you must also ensure that goals are broken down into manageable sections and milestones.
This approach provides guidance and clarity. Your loved one may also benefit from having reminders on their smartphone or other tech devices. This allows them to stay consistent with their goals and routines. By building familiarity and expectations, it becomes far easier for the individual to retain control. Frankly, it is the least that they deserve.
Praise Them
Finally, many people living with a disability simply need some reassurance. In truth, we all do. So one of the best ways to support a loved one is, funnily enough, to be supportive. There’s no need to be patronising, but you should encourage your loved one to recognise their successes. Self-pride can be the driving force that enables them to keep thriving independently.
Besides, positivity is contagious and can deliver a wealth of benefits for your own mindset. Your loved one’s added confidence can also help them improve in a variety of skills and tasks. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing them live their best life. Not least because their added independence means your time together can focus on fun rather than care.
This is a collaborative Post.
