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Pointers for Caring with Someone with a Disability

Caring for someone with a physical disability is a demanding role, even for the best of carers. The primary focus for carers or family members, is to ensure that the person has the best quality of life through enhanced dignity, independence and freedom.

There are many aids and support systems available to help the disabled and carers through the process. We understand that each disability case comes with individual requirements, so we’ve put together a list of common tips and information that apply and help most cases.

MOBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Many suffer from limited or restricted mobility. Although this presents quite a few challenges, they can be overcome with specialist and tailored equipment such as wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters, powerchairs, rollators and more. These suit users from both ends of the age spectrum – whether that’s 8 or 85. Their effectiveness and durability is of the most importance as well as being affordable and ensuring they meet the needs of the disabled. They’re well worth the investment to improve and help with independence and mobility. These all apply both to people with temporary disabilities and permanent disabilities.

Below are a few tips to help you decide what mobility aids you might require:

  • Wheelchairs – these can be used for short term and long term use, depending on the physical condition of the user. They can help with a trip to the shops/mass/some fresh air or at the other end of the scale the users everyday mode of transport.
  • Mobility Scooters – these are most commonly used for those who are elderly and have last some mobility. They provide an easy way for transportation and allow for more independence and freedom.
  • Rollators – A great item to maintain independence. They are suited more towards those who are still able mobile and have free movement, but just require a little of confidence or some extra support if out for a walk.

A SUPPORT SYSTEM
It’s essential that people with physical disabilities have a solid and stable support system surrounding them – this significantly helps them lead independent lives. A support system is known as a person or a group of people who are able to provide support in the form of physical or emotional. This could consist of completing tasks or just simply listening. The HSE primary care system provides nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services for elderly/disabled people living at home.

There will be physical and emotional challenges, especially for disabled users who require time to adjust. A strong and stable family support system should be high on the list of priorities in regards to caring for someone with a disability. This can range from overseeing medical needs and appointments to dropping in frequently and helping out where needed.

PRESERVATION OF NORMAL LIFESTYLE
An environment where disability users feels safe emotionally and physically is the goal. It’s important to provide and assist the person to having as normal a life as possible. It’s important to encourage them to be independent and to be self-reliant where necessary. By promoting independence, freedom and dignity, it encourages positivity and also helps with the state of mind.

Care in the home is one of the main ways to preserve a normal lifestyle, where the family member remains in their own surroundings. Everyone wants to remain at home and nowadays there are a very wide range of products to provide an enjoyable and hazard free environment.

PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM
By encouraging the elderly/disabled to perform tasks where they do not need your assistance is a way of making them feel independent and it offers them freedom that may be lacking in other areas of their life. Some disabled users feel helpless and a burden to others – although this can be quite common, it’s crucial to support them and guide them.

PRODUCTS TO ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE
There no shortage of products nowadays to help keep the elderly/disabled happy, independent and safe at home. They range from products that help in the kitchen, bathing, toileting and seating as well as with mobility, and all are designed to provide independence at home and to help improve the quality of life.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us via email or phone. We’re here to help. Contact us today at: 01 855 5696 or email: info@murrays.ie

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