Choosing the right residential home for physical disabilities
When researching respite or residential care homes for young adults with physical disabilities, there are three key aspects to consider.
1. Person-centred support for physical disabilities
First and foremost, must always be that the home offers the right care and support for physical disabilities to suit the needs of the individual seeking care. This goes beyond the practical management of the symptoms an individual experiences with their physical disability, to fully-bespoke, person-centred physical disabilities care which recognises, supports and empowers the whole person.
Of course, there is no substitute for experiencing the care on offer first-hand, to know whether it is right for you and your loved ones. It can therefore be really helpful to choose a residential home for physical disabilities which offers short-term respite for young adults with physical disabilities, as well as long-term care. This allows you to ‘try before you buy’, whilst giving the specialist physical disabilities team a chance to get to know you and understand how best to support you.
Another way to find out more about the physical disabilities care on offer is to seek out independent feedback and reviews, from those who use or regulate the care home. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) routinely assesses all care homes for young adults with physical disabilities, rating them according to their findings. We’re very proud that Halcon has held the highest possible CQC rating of ‘Outstanding’ since 2017, and receives consistently high ratings from customers on the independently-verified customer reviews platform, carehome.co.uk.
2. Accessible buildings and facilities
On a practical level, care homes for young adults with physical disabilities need to be fully accessible, to ensure that no areas are ‘out of bounds’ for those who use wheelchairs or have limited or altered mobility.
Think about how easy or difficult it would be for young adults with physical disabilities to move around the care home – indoors and outdoors, personal spaces and communal spaces, entering and exiting the building. Start by looking for basic features such as widened doorways and corridors, accessible wet rooms, level access between different areas of the home, and for practical features such as light switches and sockets being at an appropriate height.
Follow on from this by seeking reassurance about the presence of particular facilities which you need to live well with your physical disability. This could be anything from fully tracking ceiling hoists throughout the home, to profiling hospital beds, tilting shower chairs, stand aids and bed rails. Some residential homes for physical disabilities will take this a step further with specialist equipment such as Arjo baths with mobility and lifting aids – don’t be afraid to ask about all of the facilities on offer.
3. An empowering environment for your adults with physical disabilities
As well as supporting the physical health and practical requirements of the individual, the care home must also be somewhere that feels like home.
Once you are satisfied that the support on offer is person-centred, and that the home and its facilities are appropriate and accessible, be sure to also consider the environment and ethos of the residential home for physical disabilities. Emotional wellbeing is an important, but too often overlooked, aspect of person-centred care. Choosing a supportive, empowering environment which is suitable for the individual’s age and stage in life can be hugely beneficial in overcoming assumed barriers and enabling achievement.
Care homes for young adults with physical disabilities should be places for living, not existing! Ask about opportunities to personalise spaces to make them feel your own, meaningful activities and events are held at the home to support wellbeing, and how the specialist physical disabilities support team can enable you to pursue and discover your hobbies and interests. Even seemingly small details like WiFi access in all areas of the home, the ability to watch on-demand TV, and residents coming together to celebrate special occasions can make a huge positive impact.
Also find out about opportunities to explore the local area, feel a part of the local community and get out and about for some leisure time. Also consider how you will get to where you might want to go – will you be reliant upon public transport and taxis, or, like Halcon, does the care home have its own wheelchair adapted vehicles?
The team at Halcon refuse to see physical disabilities as a limitation, and believe in busting myths and overcoming stereotypes to make the seemingly impossible, achievable. Whether it’s supporting the independence and confidence to make their own choices, the chance to try out an adventure sport, or going on holiday abroad, the team are determined to empower young adults with physical disabilities to live the life they choose.
Person-centred support for younger adults with physical disabilities
To find out more about respite and residential care for younger adults with physical disabilities, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable Enquiries Team, who will be happy to discuss the options available, and answer any questions you may have.
