Finding the time and resources to focus on greater independence can be difficult, but it is worth the effort. Caregivers also struggle with the concept of letting go. Accepting the unknowns that come with achieving a more independent lifestyle for a family member with an intellectual disability can be difficult. For anyone, change is daunting and frightening. With this goal, you should work with your family members to improve independent living skills, recognizing that you are prioritizing their long-term well-being over wanting things to be different.
This is why Empowered Liveability was created to place people with disabilities providing all kinds of accommodation such as SDA Housing Melbourne at the centre of their own personalized support.
With this in mind, here are some suggestions for helping your loved one transition to a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
1. Learning & Adapting
It’s a positive thing to be willing to learn and develop. It isn’t simply a one-way lane. The more you, your loved one, and your support network will collaborate to adapt and appreciate each other, the faster you’ll be able to achieve freedom. Talk frankly about your problems, seek advice, and look for meaning.
2. Beginning Slow
Patience is needed to promote freedom. It’s about a series of steps and shifts that add up to a more empowered lifestyle and greater personal choice. The problem is that many people with disabilities have grown up in environments that were both caring and defensive. Independence and decision-making authority might be alien concepts, which imply that if anything goes wrong, it would be difficult to recover.
3. Community Services
You will begin to incorporate this path to independence with group events until it has progressed beyond decisions related to everyday rituals. You may be able to persuade your loved one to take the train to the supermarket and pick up the groceries. Initially, they may need assistance on these journeys, but after some time, they may be able to go on their own.
4. Friends & Lifestyle
More options… We’ll keep repeating this theme in this article because it’s basically what freedom is all about. Everyone deserves the freedom to choose their own friends and interests for the weekends. Individual growth and development can be aided by allowing people to exercise their freedom of choice.
5. Encouraging Interactions with Others
Anything you can do to break the cycle of dependency, no matter how insignificant it can seem at the moment, can help. Your loved one will gain trust and begin to take action when they engage with more people outside of their main caregiver and direct support network. Provide opportunities for socialization and independent living, and you should let this happen naturally over time.
6. Employment & Learning Options
Working can give people a sense of purpose, whether it’s to learn, earn money, or volunteer their time. It’s an opportunity to give back to society while also improving one’s self-esteem and interpersonal skills. Job or voluntary work is an important part of independent living because it promotes inclusion and fosters friendships.
Empowered Liveability provides complete SDA Housing in Melbourne where you can get the best housing solutions catered exclusively to them. For more details, please contact us at admin@empoweredliveability.com.au or at 1300-974-912.
