How do you care for a loved one with disabilities? It can be a titanic struggle, mainly because you don’t know the best way of approaching the situation. You don’t want to be too full-on and take away all of their independence, yet you also want to be sure they’re not struggling too much. There’s a delicate balance to be found, and hopefully these three tips will help you figure out what to do.
Make Home Adaptations
Life is easier for your disabled loved ones when they’re surrounded by things that help them get on with their daily tasks. Consider getting mobility tools to assist them throughout the day - anything from canes to wheelchairs to electric beds and stair lifts, depending on the severity of the disability. All of these things come together to help your loved one be more dependent and rely less on active help.
It’s the little things, too - like seats in the shower or just a comfortable chair for them to sit on. Even something as simple as an accessible laptop that’s easier to type on makes their lives so much easier. The more adaptable you make your home, the better level of care you can provide for your loved one so they’re not as adversely hindered by their disability.
Seek Financial Help
Don’t be afraid to get financial help when you’re caring for someone with a disability. It’s all well and good talking about home adaptations, but not everyone can afford this. Seek out government finance schemes or find an NDIS provider who’ll help subsidise some of these costs.
You shouldn’t have to choose between spending money or getting support for your disabled loved one. That’s not fair for anyone in this situation. Seek financial assistance and get as much aid as you can to make some of the changes mentioned earlier in your home.
Don’t Neglect Emotional Support
People talk about the physical support you must provide for someone with a disability, but you also need to be there for them emotionally. Look, managing a disability is one of the toughest things someone can do - and they have to deal with this every single day. Some days are tougher than others, so always make yourself available if they need to let off steam or rant.
Let them “crash out” and have a mini breakdown if they need to. Life is frustrating for them, and they have lots of pent-up emotions and anger, yet nobody to take it out on. Be the pillow they scream into - it may not feel like you’re doing much, but supporting their emotional needs is just as important as being there for their physical ones.
We’ll end this post by reiterating a couple of key points. The main focus should be on making life comfortable for your loved one and catering to their disability at home. Empower them with mobility aids or other small adaptations so they can do more for themselves. At the same time, be their shoulder to cry on and pay close attention to emotional support. It won’t be simple, but these ideas should make caring for loved ones a bit easier for everyone.