Caregiving requires competence along with huge doses of compassion. Caring for someone with a disability can be hard to do when you are physically and emotionally exhausted. 

Disability affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. It’s an inevitable part of life. The World Health Organization reports that about 15% of people in the world currently have a disability, and with so many baby boomers aging, the numbers are getting higher all the time. Adding to that, the pandemic and diseases are creating an increased need for caregivers for people with disabilities.  

When you think of people with disabilities, your mind probably first goes to people who are sight or hearing impaired. Maybe you had a vision of someone in a wheelchair or someone who is elderly. While those are disabilities that are immediately recognizable, the term disability encompasses a wide variety of conditions. 

The World Health Organization defines disability as, “An umbrella term that captures a more complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.”

The best care for a disabled person is often care at home, and a few tips for caring for someone with a disability will help caregivers do their very best. 

Do Your Research About Disability

Each type of disability has different symptoms and characteristics. Some people have more than one disability making it even harder to care for a disabled person. 

Quality care requires the caregiver to do some research about the challenges the person is dealing with to understand the person and their needs better. Greater understanding will allow the caregiver and the person they’re caring for to have effective interactions, and it all starts with your words and tone.

Use Your Words and Consider Your Tone

People with disabilities are people first, so speak to them as you would anyone else. Try to understand the person’s communication style and match it.  

When caring for a disabled person at home, don’t raise or lower your voice or alter your rate of speech. Stay away from insensitive terms such as deaf and dumb, cripple, and invalid. Don’t refer to them as superhuman or special either, as it sounds disingenuous. 

Grow Your Support Group

The support of friends and family members is valuable to people with disabilities. They often want to help, but they don’t always know how. Be specific with them about the kind of help you need. 

Here are a few tips for all of you in caring for a disabled adult at home.

• Join a family support group for the person’s specific disability
• Search online for related groups that provide education, recreation, and services
• Establish a support team of friends, family members, healthcare providers, and counselors  
• Hire help such as a caregiver for respite care.

Most importantly, caregivers must take care of themselves. 

Remember Self Care

Caring for a disabled person requires caregivers to practice self-care regularly and take care of their own health. 

Here are some things caregivers can do for themselves:

• Do some things you enjoy – read a book, take a walk, or sleep
• Set up respite care to take a break or vacation
• Exercise and eat a healthy diet
• Get therapy if you need it to take care of your mental health
• Socialize and don’t isolate yourself
• Arrange for professional caregiving assistance from an agency such as Goodhands Home Care

When caring for a disabled person at home, you don’t have to feel as though you have to do everything yourself. By offering to be a caregiver, you’re allowing them to remain at home. Fortunately, a non-medical home care provider can enhance the lifestyle of the disabled person and assist the family caregiver as well, so both of you can experience life to the fullest. 

How Home Care Services Can Help Disabled People

What can you expect from home care services? 

First, home care services are not just for seniors. Adults with chronic needs or disabilities can benefit from professional care at home.  

The caregivers at Goodhands Home Care work closely with caregivers and family members to support them and the person living with a disability. Our caregivers work hard to ensure everyone is on the same page with the type of help that’s needed. 

Everyone needs a bit of help at times including caregivers. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, nor is it an indication that you aren’t doing enough. Most people who work with a home care agency agree it was one of the best decisions they ever made. 

We will work with you to develop a care plan that meets your unique needs. If you need home care services for your loved one with disability please contact us at: 610-285-1095.