Addressing the complexities of supporting individuals with physical or chronic health issues demands a comprehensive approach, whether you are a family member, friend, or significant other.

Providing care within the home is a full-time commitment, requiring constant attention and dedication. It's crucial to acknowledge your own limitations and understand the support you can rely on from others.

Consider your available time both presently and in the foreseeable future. While initially, individuals with degenerative or chronic conditions may exhibit a degree of independence, their needs could evolve rapidly.

Exploring options to share caregiving responsibilities with family members or support workers can prove practical and beneficial.

Assess your own capacity honestly. Are there any personal conditions or disabilities that might impact your ability to fulfill your caregiving role effectively?

If it becomes apparent that maintaining the role alone is untenable, it's advisable to communicate this early on. This pre-emptive honesty can prevent disappointment down the road should you need to relinquish or share the caregiving responsibilities.

Furthermore, it's critical to find a supportive home care service that understands the real needs of the individual and can work seamlessly with your family. Collaborating with such professionals can significantly enhance the quality of care and support provided.

When supporting an individual there are many activities and considerations you will need to think of.  You may;

• Have to gain an understanding of the major causes of disabilities and the difference between them.

• Recognise and accommodate the interests and life activities of the person with a disability.

• Be able to identify strategies that the person may adopt to minimise the impact of their disability.

• Support and assist the person to recognise the impact their disability may have on their activities of living and their lifestyle. This may give rise to feelings of grief and loss. 

• Be aware of how to navigate the maze of seeking and aquiring help from the appropriate professional and agency. 

How do people acquire a disability?

People acquire a disability when there is a permanent loss of function in their physical, intellectual, neurological, or sensory functioning i.e. one leg shorter than the other, kidney failure, brain dysfunction, etc. When this happens a person’s functional performance and activity is impaired (not being able to hear/see, not being able to walk, short concentration span, difficulty in remembering things) and they often need continuing support services. Disability is what happens as a result of impairment. 

There are many ways in which a person can acquire a disability. The most common factors are listed in the table below:

Environmental Factors	Genetic Factors	Physical Factors
inadequate health care nutritional deficiencies cultural deprivation motor vehicle & other accidents drowning drug & alcohol abuse physical, emotional, and sexual abuse trauma.	chromosomal abnormalities hereditary traits in families.	maternal infection prematurity oxygen deprivation infection and illness ageing chemical imbalance in the brain enzyme deficiencies thyroid dysfunction toxicity & poisoning.

Sometimes a person can acquire a disability because of a combination of factors. For example, a person with a chemical imbalance in the brain develops psychosis after long term non therapeutic Methamphetamine use. At critical toxicity or overdose levels, people can also have stroke or heart failure, and occasionally seizures. For other types of disabilities such as intellectual disability the causes are not always known.

Disability may be present before birth, acquired at birth, or acquired at any time during a person’s life. A disability that is present before birth is known as a congenital disability. A developmental disability is one that occurs before the age of 18 when most of a person’s physical and intellectual development takes place. A disability that occurs during adulthood, often as a result of illness or injury, is commonly called an acquired disability. 

The impact that a disability has on a person’s life is influenced by:

• severity of the impairment
• age the disability was acquired
• amount and type of support that the person has access to.

Some impairment, such as a brain dysfunction, affects the person’s mobility and their ability to learn, communicate, and socialize. If such a disability is acquired at a young age then the impact of the disability is even greater because the person’s development is delayed. They will often experience life-long limitations in two or more of the following adaptive skills areas:

• communication
• self care 
• home living 
• social skills 
• community use 
• self direction
• health and safety 
• functional academics 
• leisure
• work.

The person will often require support and assistance throughout their life. 

Disability does not necessarily automatically indicate any degree of mental impairment. 

It is true that disability does not imply mental impairment, and each person’s capacity to navigate life’s challenges varies. Providing supportive services and minimizing environmental obstacles are crucial steps toward promoting independence and enhancing quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

As adults, we all appreciate autonomy and the ability to make our own decisions. People with disabilities deserve the same respect and support in understanding the impact of their condition. And you are right in thinking that while protecting those who are vulnerable is important, it’s equally vital to empower them to make informed choices.

Ultimately, recognizing both our abilities and limitations fosters a more compassionate and inclusive society. Finding a supportive home care team is essential when promoting independence and maximising quality of life.

Protecting those weaker than ourselves from harm is well and good, but as adults we resent people telling us what we should do and what we should not do. So it is with people with disabilities. They need to be helped to understand the impact of their disability and be supported to make decisions about whether they will act. The exception is the self-destructive individual for whom extra precautions need to be taken.

All of us have abilities and disabilities, strengths and weaknesses, skills and limitations

All of us have abilities and disabilities, strengths and weaknesses, skills and limitations. These limitations don't matter much because other people accept that we have abilities as well.

The impact of labelling on perception

When we label individuals as 'disabled,' it alters how others perceive them, leading to a shift in language. Consider this: we don't refer to short-statured people as 'shorts,' or those who trip frequently as 'uncoordinated.' Yet, unfortunately, labels like 'spastics' for those with cerebral palsy, 'mongols' or 'downs' for individuals with Down's Syndrome, and 'retards' for those with intellectual disabilities persist.

It's crucial to recognize the dangers of such labelling. Labels imply limitations and emphasize weaknesses. Instead, let us focus on our shared likeness, celebrating similarities rather than differences.

Remember that individual needs may vary, so it is essential to consult a home and healthcare professional for personalized advice. 

For a professional consultation about your Home and Community care needs phone BLU SKY CARE  

For more detailed in-depth information go to The Home & Community Carers Handbook 2024 (available by order through BluSky Care tel:+61884631333 ($90 plus postage)

A De Maria Blu Sky Care

B App Sc (Dev Disabilities) Cert IV Aged Care Cert IV Mental Health MDN Cert IV TAA

Blu Sky Care is Registered NDIS Provider committed to providing a high standard of Complex Care services to people requiring support. We understand the struggles, and are committed to personal and family solutions.