The experience of caring for someone with a physical disability can vary greatly depending on the person the carer is supporting and their needs, which can often mean that carers face challenges which are unique to their caring role.
‘Physical disability’ is a broad term which covers a wide range of conditions. It is defined by the Equality Act 2010 as a limitation on someone’s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina that has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to do everyday activities.
Although everyone’s caring situation is different, and it can change over time, many carers share similar worries and challenges around their caring role, so we have put this article together to help carers navigate their first steps to accessing relevant support.
When supporting someone with a physical disability, many carers are often tasked with finding the balance in helping someone to meet their needs with empowering them to be as independent as possible. This will be different for every person but might include:
- Helping them to move around.
- Supporting with showering, dressing and personal hygiene.
- Getting out and about.
- Household and practical tasks.
- Encouragement, reassurance and emotional support.
Sometimes it can be tempting to step in to do things for someone, believing it’s simply ‘easier’ or quicker that way; however, taking extra time and patience to encourage someone’s independence as you focus on what is possible for them, with or without your support, and ensuring that they feel their boundaries are being respected, feels much more empowering. This will go a long way to maintain their dignity, skills and self esteem, and a healthy balance between you.
This can change over time but it can also fluctuate from day to day depending on fatigue, pain and other factors. Always allowing the person you are caring for to take the lead and show you what feels most appropriate to them will often feel best. Our article on Helping someone to be independent when living with a physical disability explores this in more depth.
Talking to someone about their physical disability
Having open and honest conversations with the person you are caring for at every stage will be vital to the relationship between you being as positive as possible. Talking about their disability lightly, as simply part of their identity but not all of who they are, will help to normalise things, and avoid the unwanted feeling that they are receiving ‘special treatment’.
When thinking about accessing support for the person you care for, involving them in any decision-making and allowing them opportunities to make choices about their lives as far as possible means their independence and sense of ownership will remain strong, boosting their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Maintaining quality of life when supporting someone with a physical disability
Someone with a physical disability wants to be treated just like everyone else, so supporting them to maintain their own interests, skills and social life, and where appropriate, making sure they also go on the rota to cook dinner or do certain chores around the house just like anyone else would, can feel good all round.
First steps to accessing support
If the person you care for has recently developed a physical disability, finding out as much as you can about the condition the person you care for is living can be a great first step. Researching on reputable websites and speaking to health professionals can help to answer your questions, give you some insight of what to expect and help you to feel more prepared to support them. Speaking to other carers with similar experiences can also help you feel more confident.
There may also be particular tasks and new skills you need to learn to care for someone in a way that is safe for you both. Whether these are techniques to support someone to turn over in bed, how to use a hoist safely, or how to support someone to stand from a wheelchair, there are training courses available so you never have to take risks. Our article on Training to help you in your caring role goes into more detail here.
If you ever feel unprepared or ill-equipped to fulfil the needs of the person you are caring for, there is support available. Your GP or health visitor can be a good first person to speak to for advice, and it might be that you would benefit from a needs assessment review, some specialist equipment and adaptations to your home, or additional support from paid carers. The GP may also refer them for received an Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment to ensure they have the tools in place to achieve the greatest level of independence possible.
A Carer’s Assessment will help identify that you are receiving the support you need, and you can contact your local social services or apply online. This is in addition to the Care Needs Assessment available to the person you are caring for, which is to ensure that the right provision is made for their needs.
As part of making sure that your home is as safe as possible for you all, you can also book in a Safe and Well check with your local Fire Service. A team will come to visit you, assessing your environment and providing you with actions and advice to help make your home a safer place. They can also provide specialist equipment, like smoke alarms for those with hearing difficulties, and draw up a fire escape plan for use in case of an emergency.
Our articles on Helping someone with everyday tasks in the home, Equipment and assistive aids go into more detail and may also be useful here.
Emergency planning
Whilst it might be difficult, it is important to consider what would happen if you were unable to provide care, either in the short or long term. Where appropriate, having a conversation with the person you are caring for about their needs and desires if you were not around to support them can bring peace of mind to everyone involved.
When thinking about emergency planning, it can be beneficial to start by creating a simple one-page document that gives a clear picture of the main points to consider when it comes to supporting the person you are caring for is a great idea.
This document can be updated whenever necessary, and would include an overview of their condition and medical needs, any medications they take and when, useful contact details and appointment schedules, and anything else you feel to be useful. You might draw this up in partnership with the person you are caring for, and ensure that your GP, health team and other trusted people in your support network have copies or know where it can be found if needed.
Our article on Planning for emergencies as a carer is a more in-depth guide to this important area.
Understanding changes in relationships
If you have recently become a carer or the person you are now caring for is managing a new condition, it will take time to build up confidence and trust between you as you both adjust to this new experience. The relationship between you will have changed, and you may both need time to adjust to this new way of being with one another. Here are a few ways to maintain a positive relationship with the person you care for.
The emotional impact of this can be significant and it will be natural for you both to experience a wide spectrum of emotions, including frustration, fear, guilt, anger and grief, not only at the start of this new phase of life, but at different times during your journey together. Acknowledging those difficult thoughts, emotions and feelings as they arise will be crucial for you both; our article on Managing difficult feelings and emotions could be a useful resource for you at this point.
Making time to connect with each other, with the disability and the caring role put aside for a while, is an important part of this. Prioritising time for fun activities, where you can laugh and enjoy yourselves together as two human beings simply there for the fun of it, will help you maintain balance and closeness, and enrich your relationship.
If you are caring for a partner who has recently developed a physical disability, you might also like to read our article on Managing changes in your relationship when your partner develops a physical disability.
Financial support
If you are at all worried about finances at this stage, you are not alone. Many carers say that they worried about money when they were suddenly not able to work full-time, for example, or needed to make expensive alterations to their home. It’s important to know that there is financial support available from your Local Authority in the form of benefits and grants. Our article on Getting financial support as a carer is a detailed guide to receiving the support you are entitled to.
Looking after yourself
If you are a carer supporting someone with a physical disability, it is all too easy to forget about yourself, and even feel guilty about thinking about your own needs. It is vital to remember that making yourself a priority will ensure you are able to care even more effectively, with more patience, compassion and strength to offer. You can read more on looking after your wellbeing as a carer here.