In the busy world we live in, and especially if you are a carer or have a disability it is easy to forget about taking care of ourselves. Wellness is about more than just physical health—it's about feeling good in every way. If you have a disability attaining and maintaining wellness is an additional challenge for some. 

Think of wellness as a balance between your body, mind, and spirit. It's about finding ways to feel good inside and out, even when life gets hectic.

Taking care of your wellness means making small changes in your daily routine, like 

• eating well, 
• getting enough sleep, and 
• finding time to relax. 

It's also about surrounding yourself with positive people and letting go of things that bring you down.

It's not always easy, but the rewards are worth it. When you take care of your wellness, you'll feel happier, more energetic, and better able to handle whatever life throws your way.

So, as you start on this journey of wellness, remember that you're not alone. Together, let's discover the joy of feeling good in every way, and find the best version of ourselves along the way.

There is an abundance of information nowadays on how to maintain basic wellness, in fact there is so much that at times you can be overwhelmed by it and find it difficult to prioritise what to consider and what is not a priority. 

Essentially most people agree that a holistic approach which includes supporting the following three essential aspects:

1. Physical health
2. Psychological health
3. Spiritual health.

Although this discussion is concerned about physical health, the interrelationship between all of them is important. For example, a person may have a poor psychological disposition at present and in turn their motivation to eat, exercise, and drink appropriately may be severely compromised.  

Let’s look at the Five key areas for maintaining a healthy body

1. clean air and a non-toxic or polluted environment 
2. healthy balance between work, leisure and rest
3. proper nutrition and hydration
4. safe and healthy lifestyle ensuring the correct physical activities 
5. regular health check-ups, and taking care of the body (including carer support)

Ageing & Disability: the older person, the person who acquires a disability 

There are many issues and changes we will face when become older. Some of the key changes that ageing may bring to us can include;

• physical processes
• changes to our cognitive function 
• changes to our physical ability (stroke, quadriplegia etc)
• changes to our social interaction
• changes to our role and family relationships
• changes to our living arrangements
• changes to our level of independence 

We may need to face:

• Loss and grief
• Family carer issues
• Different attitudes and expectations of society towards us
• Health challenges 

Life certainly will bring some challenges to people.

Older individuals and younger people with disabilities deserve to enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling life, whether they're in their own home or a cozy environment. Care workers play a crucial role in making sure the person's living space is adjusted to suit their evolving needs and in assisting them to stay physically and mentally healthy. This involves offering daily support and adhering to simple healthy living practices.

Healthy lifestyle habits may be identified under a number of key areas. Have a look at these examples.

Maintain;

• personal health
  • medication monitoring 
  • elimination and maintaining continence
  • preventative health care
  • monitoring and maintenance of current health issues
  • ensuring cardiovascular health 
• personal grooming (including physical care of)
  • dressing shaving
  • oral hygiene
  • eye care
  • nasal care
  • ear care
  • hair care
  • skin care
• physical activity, movement and exercises
• nutrition and mealtime habits
• personal hygiene
• posture and positioning
• leisure and recreation activities
• building and maintaining relationships
• continuing meaningful cognitive activities
• rest and sleep
• community participation
• personal development and education.

It is important to consider all activities in relation to holistic health, wellbeing and fitness, and how the activities contribute to general wellbeing and fitness of a person. In considering this it is important to consider not only their needs but to consider their needs in relation to their stage in human development. This is critical so we don’t just second-guess the support of activities of daily living (ADL), but we are effective at delivering a service that is relevant to each individual in relation to body.

In your workplace there will be individuals responsible for implementing certain procedures, who will have a working knowledge of what is involved. You need to be aware that you will not have the authority to do what they are doing; for example, only a trained and appropriately assessed worker will have permission to give certain types of medications.  

Workers must be informed or seek information about the health risks of the individuals they are supporting and under the guidance of their supervisors encourage healthy behaviours. Persons with disabilities need education, at their level of understanding, about their care needs and behaviours, older people who are frail need support and encouragement to be active and involved to their functional capacity. 

Specific health promotion activities for persons with disabilities include an annual physical examination, frequent medication review, appropriate referrals, nutrition counselling, exercise, preventive physical care, and behavioural support.

Workers may be required to familiarise themselves with the appropriate health history in order to respond to the plan of care as directed by the supervisor.  The level of intervention will depend on the role you are in, and the provider you work for.

Here are some general ways of maintaining a healthy body.

Clean air and a non toxic or polluted environment	Ensure protection from sun and windTake a very cautious approach to environmental chemicalsEliminate cigarettes and smoky environmentsEnsure a good clean hygienic water supply, especially when travelling
Healthy balance between work, leisure and rest	Ensure a regular exercise (active and passive) regimeEnsure, leisure and recreation activities of choice are a key part of a persons lifeEnsure sleep and rest is of good quality and without interruption
Proper nutrition and hydration	Ensure a well balanced diet, increase fibre and hydrationObtain advice on the optimum diet for specific situations Obtain advice on the optimum diet for optimum healthEnsure appropriate texture of food and fluids so it meets the needs of the individual.
Safe and healthy lifestyle ensuring the correct physical activities	Maintain oral care even for the person without teethEnsure an awareness of risk and maintain a safe living environmentInclude functionally appropriate physical activity to maximise bodily functionEnsure appropriate clothing, especially when outside
Regular health check ups, and take care of your body (including carer support)	Explore with the health professionals the use of supplements, such as calcium, fibre etc.Facilitate regular health and medical checksManage stressLimit alcoholIf a person is confined to bed, ensure an appropriate health regime is in place via a care plan such as regular turning in bed, other treatment regimes, and correct positioning in chairs is maintained.Ensure a health care team is in place and active in their duty.

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 an organisation (NDIS) 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.