Caregivers for Disabled Adults

Making the decision to care for a disabled adult isdevelopmental levels. You’ve stepped up to
a life altering resolution to an already difficultthe plate, so realistically, where do YOU want to
situation. Weather a sibling or non-family member,go from here. More is better when it comes to
the decision to become a caregiver for a disabledindependence but always keep in mind each
adult means change. Once, a mother of a disabledperson’s limitations. For this article,
child once said it was like learning to live in Holland.I’m assuming there is a degree of
In a lot of ways, her comparison was valid. Asindependence possible. Self care and
the parent of a disabled child you learn a newcommunicative skills are required to move beyond
language and how to live in a completely newcustodial care and into the world of community
environment with a new focus in life. Every choiceintegration. All things considered, you must be the
made reflects “what’s best for myjudge of the disabled person’s ability to
child”.learn job skills and integrate socially. Training time
When you make the decision to acceptis not important. Weather it takes a week or a
responsibility for a disabled adult, it mirrors manymonth, learning a skill is the key. Rule of thumb, if
of the same issues. The only trouble is, thea disabled person can keep the house, his room
inroads made over a lifetime of care giving byand bathroom clean, than he can be a dining room
parents are not automatically transferred to theattendant at a fast food restaurant. If the
new care giver. State, county, and local contactsdisabled person conducts themselves appropriately
for assistance programs are seldom passed along.in social settings, they’re ready for
Dealing with waiver and support programs can becommunity integration.
confusing and at times, a gauntlet most peopleFind a program. Make calls. Don’t stop
find impossible to manage. That said, if areaching out. The Internet is the best possible
caregiver you must be, then first face somesearch tool. Don’t stop until you find a
facts. You’re moving to Holland and yourprogram that fits your disabled adult’s
life is changing.needs.
My experience is in Texas and that said, I willPersistence is important. Sign up for every
refer to state specific issues. Each state will havequalifying program, don’t stop calling until
similar initiatives; some will provide betterit’s active and finally and foremost keep
programs, while other states will offer little ingood records. Use an expanding file folder, make
supported services. First do an Internet search ofa file folder for each program, save
state services.correspondence, make copies of letters and
[forms you send out and keep notes on every
[verbal and telephone conversation.
Use your state as the source and search forIt’s hard to imagine administrators of
disability services. In the search engine text optionprograms could possibly be selective in application
use words; “Your county” Yourof policies but it happens all the time. If a program
State” Disability, Rehabilitation, Services.has a waiting list, ask the number on the list. Call
Then Search. If disabled, most adults qualify forback every few months and make someone
Social Security Income (SSI). It’s not muchprovide a status. Get names. Be able to tell the
assistance financially, but with it the disabled adultnext person the history on a subject including
qualifies for Medicaid. That covers some financialdates and who you spoke with.
assistance and medical insurance. That’sLast but definitely not least. Join a support group.
basics but we all know, that’s not theAssociation of Retarded Citizens (ARC) is a
ultimate goal.national organization. The ARC has social events
This is the time to get real investigative. As youfor the disabled, caregiver training and state
well know, individuals with a disability have varyinggovernment inter-action and advocacy programs.