Different people have different levels of needs, and if you know someone with a disability, you likely have firsthand knowledge of how true that is. This is even more so if you have a caregiving role in that person’s life, either as a parent or simply a family member who offers whatever support you can.
Different Types of Disabilities
Disabilities come in many different shapes and sizes, so it’s difficult to give advice that covers every situation.
For example, some people are born with a disability, while others might have a chronic illness or have suffered an injury that has caused them to have extra needs. Some disabilities impact people’s cognitive abilities or their ability to learn and be independent, while other people only have physical disabilities. Even if two different people have the same condition, they might have drastically different experiences.
However, here are a few things that you can bear in mind, especially as a caregiver. This way, you can support your loved one and make sure that you are proactive in taking care of your own needs as well.
Communication
The first thing you can do is to simply ask how you can help. If someone has been dealing with a physical disability for years, they know best how they like to be helped. Sometimes, unwanted help can be more harmful than not.
For example, if you know someone who uses a wheelchair to get around, you might be tempted to push them to get them from A to B or to simply move them out of the way. But this is the equivalent of physically picking someone up and moving them, and can be distressing.
A mobility aid is often considered an extension of someone’s body, and you wouldn’t touch or move a person without consent. So, if someone asks you to push them, or if you ask whether they would like a hand, and they agree, go ahead.
Coping With an Emergency
However, if someone has cognitive impairment, is experiencing a medical emergency, or doesn’t have capacity for whatever reason, things can get more complicated. If you’re the primary carer, then you should follow the advice of your loved one’s doctor. Otherwise, contact their primary caregiver and, if they can’t be contacted, do what you can to keep the person and people around safe.
If you need to call emergency services, then make sure that the people involved understand the needs of the person you’re looking after. This is especially important if medical personnel or the police are contacted, because they can make a situation worse by unnecessarily escalating things if they don’t know what’s happening.
Extra Help
One of the most important things you can do to support someone with a disability is to simply be there for them. Unfortunately, especially if you’re the main caregiver, this can get difficult when you try to do everything yourself.
It can be helpful to involve disability services which can help with your loved one’s needs. These can cover a variety of needs, including home care and other services.