Supporting Special Needs Children, Adults with Disabilities, and Older Adults: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
As we enter the holy month of Ramadan, let us show our support and respect of being mindful of the needs of caregivers of children with special needs, caregivers of adults with disability and elderly family members.
During this period, it is quite challenging for parents of children with special needs and others involved in caretaking of their elderly parents/spouse or a family member with a disability. As healthcare professionals, we are here to support these humble and caring souls by providing some useful tips to ensure their health and wellbeing as well as the care-receivers during this holy month of Ramadan.
Plan your day: Prioritize the tasks to be performed for your care-receivers such as basic personal care, and therapy-related activities/exercises, and carry out only essential household tasks. Eliminate household chores which are not so important/strenuous to you or outsource some tasks such as laundry service so that you can maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
Ask for help: Even though as a mother or caregiver, with the blessings of Allah, you could manage the tasks/services offered to your child with special needs / elderly parents, it is better to share the tasks among other family members, especially during this month of Ramadan, so that you could maintain your energy levels up till Suhoor. It also provides a sense of satisfaction for other family members involved in providing care.
Maintain a routine: Have an established routine for your day and assign responsibilities to each family member so that it is planned well for the entire duration of Ramadan. Do not try any new activities / strenuous work which requires significant energy and time such as gardening or outdoor activities.
A checklist for staying healthy: Prepare a health checklist such as medication (routine medication schedule as advised by your general practitioner), monitoring (have a close watch for any signs and symptoms of discomfort or distress due to medical conditions in your elderly parents or in special child) Rest and sleep (rest as needed to you and care-receiver and avoid tasks that interfere with sleep) and include any specific health parameters to be monitored as per the medical condition of your loved ones in the checklist.
Modified home exercise program: As a parent or caregiver, you may wish to follow the therapeutic play activities / sensory integrative activities/exercises prescribed by your health-care professional such as physiotherapist / occupational therapist, which usually are energy-consuming and strenuous. These could be modified in consultation with your health professionals, and you could carry out passive/ energy-efficient methods/tasks / play which require minimal energy to you and the special child such as using a swing, table-top activities, and various board games.
Preparedness: Do take necessary precautionary measures such as stocking necessary medicines as required, and gather contact details of your health care professionals so that you can communicate with them by phone for any general health-related queries. Carry out a general service/maintenance of your assistive and adaptive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, or any therapeutic devices as prescribed by your health care provider.
Parent / caregiver support groups: If you are a new to the caregiving role and not having enough experience, connect with other caregivers who has better solutions and strategies based on their experience in order to maintain physical and psychological wellbeing of yourself as well as your family members with disability.
Wishing all a good health and prosperity this Ramadan!