Caregiving for someone disabled living with disabilities can be time-consuming and demanding, but there are ways you can make life simpler for both you and your family disability services Melbourne.
Beginning your recovery journey begins by joining a support group. Joining will enable you to access useful information, obtain emotional support and claim reimbursements on taxes for medical expenses incurred.
Take Care of Their Physical Needs
People living with physical disabilities require suitable housing and transportation options that meet their needs, and may also benefit from assistive devices like canes, walkers and wheelchairs to navigate around their environments more safely.
Many disabled adults require help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating and taking medication. They may also require assistance getting to and from medical appointments, organizing social arrangements and finding employment.
Some expenses related to disability may qualify as tax deductions when filing your taxes, and you could also take advantage of programs like Medicaid Self-Directed Care or Veteran Directed Care to receive regular compensation for providing caregiving services.
Families caring for members with a disability should make time to themselves. Caregivers who neglect taking breaks often experience stress, burnout and even depression as caregivers do their jobs unnecessarily. Speak to your primary doctor for advice or referrals on support groups and services for people living with disabilities in your local church or community organization.
Take Care of Their Mental Needs
One of the best things you can do to assist your disabled family member is helping them cope with their emotions, as well as finding effective methods of addressing them. Respite care may also provide much-needed respite care services so you can have some much-needed alone time while relieving some pressure from you and them.
Avoid using dehumanising language such as “differently-abled,” and instead focus on their abilities rather than disabilities. Avoid pressuring family members too hard into doing activities they are incapable of, as this could damage their self-esteem and increase anxiety or depression.
Attend all health appointments with your charge, bringing along questions to discuss. This will give them a sense of inclusion and agency when living with disability.
Take Care of Their Social Needs
Recognizing people with disabilities, their strengths and weaknesses, as well as individual needs can help you provide exceptional care. Doing your research about their disability will also help prevent miscommunication from developing later on.
Understanding their communication difficulties is also crucial, such as understanding how it impacts their speech and hearing. Furthermore, when talking about people with disabilities it’s essential not to use labels like ‘crippled’ and ‘dumb’ in your language.
At the same time, online communities can help your loved one meet other disabled people in their area and socialise with them more regularly if they don’t have access to physical disabled people in person regularly. This is particularly important if their physical disability prevents them from leaving home frequently for socialising purposes.
Take Care of Their Financial Needs
When caring for someone with a disability, it’s essential to take their financial needs into consideration. There are programs which provide caregivers with compensation or can recoup some costs through deductions or credits on taxes; examples include Medicaid Self-Directed Care as well as state and federal assistance programs.
Family households should also establish an emergency savings plan, to cover unexpected expenses that arise unexpectedly. This can be accomplished by streamlining expenses and setting aside funds on a regular basis.
Finally, disabled people should find ways to give back to those who help them. Doing things they enjoy together can do wonders for their mental health and sense of self-worth; whether that be chopping vegetables together or going for a stroll through a nearby park; the key is keeping focus on empowering rather than burdening someone.
