How To Care For A Child With A Disability As They Grow

The daily care of children with a disability is physically demanding, and requires great care and mindfulness for the carers and/or parents looking after a child.

When a child is an infant, the physical demands often aren't as apparent as when the child starts getting older, heavier and growing. As this happens, the physical demands of many carers of children who have a physical disability experience body aches and pains, and are sometime severely affected.

There are other demands that can also affect the carer or parents of those looking after a disabled child including changes in the child’s level of mobility due to pain or surgery, where the carer needs to adapt accordingly.

When your children are young and need your help, you lift them a lot. However as they grow it can be difficult to continue to lift them and provide physical assistance as it may not be safe for you to do so. 

It is important to think carefully about your health and capability, and also the future – rather than waiting for a crisis to occur. An injury or back problem will make caring for your child very difficult, painful and frustrating.

Also, care workers need to adhere to their work health and safety standards, and they are not permitted to lift a person over 16kgs unless using special manual handling equipment, such as an electric bed, a hoist or a shower chair.

The easiest way to determine if you're at risk of an injury when caring for a disabled child is to assess your physical risk factors.

If you answer yes to any of these questions you are at risk of an injury:

• Is the child over 16kg?
• Do you lift your child frequently?
• Do you bend or twist when lifting?
• Do you sometimes lift in a restricted space?
• Is your child awkward to lift?
• Is it awkward to keep your child close to your body while lifting them?
• Do you lift your child from a low height or from surfaces above waist height?
• Do you often need to reach or bend forward?
• Is it hard to get help to lift when you need it?
• Do you experience back pain?
• Have you previously needed treatment for a back injury or back pain?
• Do you have any arm or leg pain or injuries?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, we can help. 

LiftAbility are the leaders in patient handling and provide solutions such as floor and ceiling hoists, that can effortlessly move your child from the bed to a chair, the toilet etc. 

Our range of floor hoists and ceiling hoists are more than just a tool to move and handle children - they ensure quick and easy transfers, with maximum comfort.

Email us today at admin@lift-ability.com.au or call us to discuss how we can support you.

Additional information sourced from NSW Government