Making life better in disadvantaged communities - our thoughts on everything - from Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.
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If you have to care for a relative with a disability you will need:
#1 Patience
#2 Respect for the individual as a person
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Make sure they're clean at all times and make sure they are fed at all times. Make sure they make it to school on time. Make sure their hair is fixed nicely, and make sure they are dressed nicely. Disability or not, a person who steps off the school bus well-fed, well-dressed and clean will have a better day and probably get treated better by other people.
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The main thing that I want to express is to have patience. That's number one on my list. If you have patience, everything else will fall in the order you want it to.
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Make sure their teeth are brush, they are showered and are dressed properly. Even if they are not leaving the house, this will make the person feel better about himself.
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Caring for my disabled grandmother: My name is Jennifer Schmidt and I have a license as a CNA, but I am out of that career as of now. That career did help me with one thing. It helped me take care of my Grandma Lucy. She is 84 right now and has a lot of problems, especially with her body. She is handicapped. I have no problem helping her when I'm with her. That means helping her get out of bed, help her get dressed, dress her wounds on her feet, get her meds ready, and help her if she needs to get up from the chair (most times she can do it herself). She lived by herself all her life until 4 years ago, then we had to put her into an assistant living place. She wasn't too happy, but is getting better with it. I will do anything for my grandmother. She holds my heart!!!
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Patience. Also, make sure they get exercise, have three meals a day, make sure they bathe daily. Don't forget other needs. Make sure they have someone to talk to day to day, make sure they are given medication as needed, regular doctor appointments/exams.
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Keep them company. Take them out of the house. Take them to their appointments.
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A Caregiver for a disabled person is one provides daily life assistance, including the need for grooming, dressing, nutrition preparation, and other personal daily help. They can also, assist with daily emotional, spirtual and other physical needs.
In some cases this person can be a total stranger who has training as a Personal Care Attendant or it could be a family member or significant other (spouse) who maintains the primary care and assistance for the disabled person.
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Caregivers come in all forms, as a friend, loved one or even if they are an employee. I think one of the most important thing is to give the person his or her dignity and privacy. Most of all we all loose that at somepoint and it can make for an unhappy life. Respect goes a long way.