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Wheelchair Care: Guidelines for Family Caregivers

Wheelchairs serve as life extensions for persons with mobility disabilities. As they will be using these for a long term, further knowledge on basic wheelchair maintenance can be helpful. If you’re the primary caregiver, you can also extend more assistance to your loved one when you aid them in the maintenance of their wheelchair.

In our role as a provider of Support Services in Indiana, we have been assisting different individuals with developmental disabilities who are either partially ambulatory or dependent on wheelchairs. So we understand how it is very essential for them to attain quality life in this condition. For that, we hope that the following guidelines on wheelchair maintenance can be of help to you.

  • Always double check the tire pressure of the wheelchair at least every month.
    Since the tires are the direct contact of the wheelchair to the ground, these always need to be in good condition. A worn-down tire can be difficult to manage and may result to trips or accidents for the passenger.
  • Still with the tires, ensure that these are always in good condition.
    Before you take your loved one out or before they ask to sit on the wheelchair, carefully assess the strength of the tires. When these are in good functioning condition, then you can begin the transfer.
  • You also need to review the inner tubes in the tires.
    When these tubes malfunction or are not fitted well, the wheelchair’s mobility can be affected.
  • As a Habilitation Service provider, we also recommend to evaluate the wheelchair brakes to ensure that these are working well.
    Before the wheelchair is used for whatever reason, make sure that their brakes are able to hold strong.
  • Furthermore, still regarding with the brakes, ensure that the braking system has a correct placement.
    When there is a low-pressure tire, the wheelchair’s performance can be impaired, which poses certain risks to your loved one’s safety.
  • Wheelchairs also come with user manuals.
    If there are aspects in the maintenance steps that you need specific assistance with, review the manuals so you can be guided properly.
  • Evaluate the wheelchair’s front wheels to know if these are also functioning well.
    Make sure that these are stable enough and able to support the wheelchair as it moves forward or turns around. Since the front wheels receive the first stage of the road obstacles, you have to ensure that its functionality is fit enough to preserve the safety of your loved one.

We hope that these guidelines can help. At Beloved Shepherd LLC, you have a partner in us in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of your loved one. If you ever find the need to get some respite and is looking for help in caring for your loved one, we can provide Respite Services in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our team of care providers is experienced enough to attend to the needs of persons on wheelchairs and individuals with developmental disabilities.

Tips: Communicating with a Person with Down’s Syndrome

It is a basic human need to communicate. However, there are certain practices and etiquettes we need to observe when we are communicating with someone depending on their unique needs.

For persons with Down’s Syndrome, communicating with them may pose certain challenges. As providers of Habilitation Services, however, we know that quality interactions with them are possible. With that, we would like to impart the following communication tips:

  • Talk About Day-to-Day Activities
    Make use of your daily activities as talking points. This helps them to recognize and associate words and ideas with actual experiences they went through. For instance, you can ask about whether they liked their food or not.
  • Use Visual Cues
    Communicate with them using visual gestures and signs. These cues reinforce communication abilities especially if they are still learning about some words. You can do hand signals or facial expressions to emphasize your point.
  • Copy the Person’s Response
    Observe the person’s response and copy their expressions. Smile if they smile, shrug if they shrug, but let them be when they’re not in the mood. As we provide Support Service in Indiana, we have seen that reflecting their responses makes them more interactive.
  • Be Animated in Interacting
    Along with copying their expressions, it also helps if you are animated when you talk to them. This gets them hooked to pay attention to you and observe your mouth as you speak. Consequently, this improves their understanding of new vocabularies.
  • Use Repetition
    It is also very helpful to repeat words and ideas to them. For instance, if they point to a dog but they only get to pronounce “d” or “g”, repeat this for them with emphasis on pronouncing “dog”. If they also point at something that they incorrectly address, you can repeat to them the correct word.
  • Show You Are Pleased
    A person with Down’s Syndrome is also encouraged to interact more when the person they’re talking to is pleased with them. Smile and be cheerful when talking to them. We have seen this work as we assist them with their Home health care needs.
  • Stay Physically Close
    When interacting with a person with Down’s Syndrome, it’s very helpful to be physically close. They will not only sense your comforting presence, but they can also clearly hear you and observe the way you use words.
  • Be Patient
    Patience is also very necessary when communicating with persons with Down’s Syndrome. They may take time to respond to your message or you may need to speak slower than you usually do. However, know that your patience will be rewarded with productive communication.

Are you a parent whose loved one has Down’s Syndrome? If you’re looking for people to assist you in caring for them, our team at Beloved Shepherd LLC is here for you. We also provide Respite Services in Fort Wayne, Indiana so that when you need to get some personal break, you know that your loved one is in a safe and caring environment.

Down syndrome is a developmental disability that occurs when there is an additional copy of chromosome 21. Due to the extra genetic material, people with Down syndrome have different physical and mental characteristics from the average person. They are typically shorter, have an upward slant to their eyes, have low muscle tone, and have a single crease across their palm. Even though these are common characteristics that people with Down syndrome have, it is important to remember that they are all unique. Also, a support service in Indiana can help you provide a great life for a loved one with Down syndrome.

Here are some of the basics about Down syndrome:

  • Are there multiple forms of down syndrome?

    There are actually three different forms of Down syndrome. Trisomy 21 is the most common type accounting for over 95% of the case. Trisomy 21 is where the Chromosome 21 is duplicated. The rarest form of Down syndrome is Mosaicism, which accounts for only 1% of all the cases. People with Mosaicism tend to have fewer characteristics that are common among individuals with Down syndrome. The third kind is translocation, which makes up about 4% of all cases. Fortunately, many individuals with Down syndrome can live independent lives, especially with the help of habilitation services.

  • What Leads to Down Syndrome?

    What leads to Down syndrome is currently unknown but we do know that it is caused by an extra chromosome 21. Some other facts we know that maternal age plays a large role. 80% of children who are born with Down syndrome have mothers who are 35 years old or older. There is currently no research indicating that environmental factors have an impact or not.

  • Is Down Syndrome Common?

    Down syndrome is a condition that can happen to anyone, regardless of race. However, this condition is quite rare. A woman at 35 will have a 1 out of 350 chance of conceiving a baby that has Down syndrome but this chance will increase with age. A woman who is 45 will have a 1 out of 30 chances of conceiving a baby with Down syndrome. If you have a child with Down syndrome, there are many forms of respite services in Fort Wayne, Indiana that can help you.

Down syndrome is commonly misunderstood but there are many methods out there that can help you take care of a child with this syndrome. Beloved Shepherd LLC offers superb residential habilitation that can help your loved one live a better and more independent lifestyle. Help your loved one live the life they deserve by contacting us today.

what-is-residential-habilitation

Residential habilitation is a form of care services designed to provide 24/7 care for individuals in need. There are many different kinds of habilitation services that cater to different types of people. Some of these residential care providers focus on the elderly, some focus on individuals with developmental disabilities, and some offer help to a mix of people. These services are a great way to ensure that your loved one is receiving the care they need to live a full and healthy life.

Here are a few of the many services you can expect when you consider habilitation services:

  • Support Services
    Independence is something that is very important to us. For this reason, we offer a variety of services aimed to improve your loved one’s independence. If your loved one is 18 years or older, we can offer services that improve their ability to live on their own and pursue an independent lifestyle. This can go a long way in boosting their quality of life.
  • Community
    We are social creatures and we thrive being in groups of other people. To make sure that your loved one is able to find a community of their own, we offer skills and services that can help them. Our services can improve social skills, behaviors, and we can teach numerous life skills that can help your loved one adapt to the ever-changing circumstances of life. Our support service in Indiana is tailored to meet your loved one’s unique needs.
  • Respite
    We understand that it can be a huge challenge taking care of a loved one with a developmental disability. To ensure that you do not burn yourself out, we offer personalized respite care. Through our respite services in Fort Wayne, Indiana, we can help you provide the best life possible for your loved one.

When you are looking for options that can help improve your loved one’s life, you cannot go wrong with residential habilitation. Since we offer so many different kinds of services that can help your loved one, you can rest easy knowing they will be in good hands. Beloved Shepherd LLC is passionate about providing superb care services. Get in touch with us today and help your loved one live the best life possible.

services-for-seniors-on-respite-care

Family members who are at the same time the primary caregivers to their elderly can safely go on a break with our respite services in Indiana. Whether you need to take a break overnight or for just a few hours, trust that you will have the most capable hands to look after your elderly.

Our habilitation services in Fort Wayne, Indiana accommodate your respite needs through the following services:

  • In-Home Short-Term Care
    For families who deliver primary care to their elderly, our in-home short-term care can give them a few hours to relax or do some groceries for replenishments at home. Depending on the arrangement, you may also opt for overnight care for your senior loved one to give you more time off from your care responsibilities at home.
  • Short-Term Facility Care
    Families can also choose to have their senior loved one spend their temporary care at our Assisted Living Facility, to give them the chance to mingle with our other clients. They can even join in on the day’s activities so they can have a little fun and leisure while they are staying with us for their respite services. Our short-term facility care can be a couple to a few hours, depending on the client’s arrangement.
  • Adult Day Programs
    During respite services, we can also help you find adult day programs that will benefit your elderly’s wellness or mental health. Stimulation is still very much important in seniors because this gives them the positivity to enjoy life and have good energy for themselves. Activities within the community can engage them into new friendships or skills that will entertain them or give interest to them. Attending adult day programs can be half a day or a few hours, depending on the program.

Respite services though temporary, are very crucial for primary caregivers since this window of rest and relaxation can give their bodies its much-needed break. Whether families choose an in-home or facility care for their senior loved one, the common goal is to give both the senior and their primary caregiver a break in contact and their well-deserved rest.

Help someone you know take a break and call on Beloved Shepherd LLC to assist them with their respite service needs.

what-your-loved-one-can-do-with-residential-habilitation-

Providers of habilitation services in Fort Wayne, Indiana help individuals 18 years old and above to become self-sufficient at home. By teaching them how to take better care of themselves, they can do more things on their own when their family members are out to take care of other responsibilities.

Skill development is systematically introduced by our dedicated staff in order for our clients to slowly be familiar with the different things they need to do that will help them gain a new skill which can help them care for themselves.

Develop Care For One’s Self

By assessing their physical capacity, our staff can gauge the things the client can do and cannot do on their own. Teaching them how to put on their clothes without assistance and perhaps rearranging household items that will make their tasks easier and flow even better can be done to help improve their home environment. Their safety is always the main priority and with proper awareness and reminders, they can gain the confidence to do basic self-care at home.

Learn Independence

Once they gain skills in self-care, practice exercising their independence. When they can do things on their own at home or at our Assisted Living Facility without any assistance of a family member or caregiver, they have gotten so far at believing in themselves for actually making a lot of progress from the start of the program. Even if it just means talking to a neighbor or offering to water a plant is already an achievement and their progress should be acknowledged.

Promotion of Community Involvement

Just because they are differently-abled, it does not necessarily mean they are incapable. They may have a different way of doing things because of their physical capacity but the bottom line is they can do it. By exposing them to locally hosted group events or workshops, we are expanding their horizons by bringing them into the community and closing the gaps between what is “normal” and what is not. Being present in the community enriches both our client and the community members before them.

Even with their circumstances, they are very much capable of doing different tasks. Building up one’s confidence through our residential habilitation programs help them to approach life happily with high morale. Low self-esteem does not just exist with people who are differently-abled, even people who are physically in shape also need some boost of confidence.

Let this blog from Beloved Shepherd LLC help a family or someone you know to learn a skill and gain a renewed confidence in life. Our services are available in Allen County, Fort Wayne, IN.