A Complete Guide to Physical Disabilities Support
What is a physical disability and how does physical disability affect a person?
A physical disability is a condition that impacts an individual’s mobility, dexterity, or stamina. This can include limited movement, loss of physical function or sensory impairment, which has a long-term impact on the individual.
How many people have a physical disability in the UK?
According to disability equality charity, Scope, there are around 16 million disabled people in the UK, including 23% of all working-age adults.
The high proportion of young adults with physical disabilities informs our determination to ensure that relevant, age-appropriate physical disability support exists for those impacted. The Halcon Centre, our physical disabilities respite and residential care home in Taunton, is designed for younger adults, catering to everything that is important to them as young people rather than focusing solely on providing physical disability support.
Are physical disabilities genetic?
Some physical disabilities can be inherited and form part of an individual’s genetic make-up. Muscular Dystrophy, for example, is a genetically inherited physical disability which causes muscles to weaken over time. However, not all physical disabilities are genetic.
What are the types of physical disabilities?
Whilst there are many conditions which are classed as a physical disability, they can be broadly split into two overarching categories – musculoskeletal physical disabilities, and neuromusculoskeletal physical disabilities.
The first relates to physical disabilities where the individual’s joints, bones or muscles are directly affected. Musculoskeletal disabilities include Muscular Dystrophy (muscle weakness) Arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease).
The second category relates to physical disabilities where the individual’s nervous system limits or prevents the movement of certain parts of the body. Examples of neuromusculoskeletal disabilities include Cerebral Palsy (damage to the developing brain), traumatic brain injury (when brain tissue is damaged due to injury) and stroke (where the flow of blood to the brain is interrupted). All of these conditions impact the brain’s ability to control, direct or sustain the movement of different areas of the body.
What are the causes of physical disability?
Physical disabilities can be caused by injury or physical trauma (for instance, following an accident), an illness (such as Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases), a medical event (like a stroke), or inherited genetics.
The term ‘physical disability’ covers a wide range of conditions that impact different aspects of an individual’s physical mobility, dexterity, or stamina. The type and severity of this impact will determine the type and level of support an individual needs in order to live well with their physical disability.
How to provide effective physical disability care for adults
Effective physical disability care for adults is person-centred – it considers each person as an individual, assesses their unique physical disability support requirements, and also considers their interests, ambitions and what is important to them.
Only by taking all of these factors into account, can physical disability care effectively meet the needs of someone with a physical disability, and enable them to live the life they choose.
The right solution will look different, for different people. Depending on how a physical disability impacts an individual’s daily life, the support offered by care homes for young adults with physical disabilities may provide the answer.
It’s important to note that, as well as offering long-term residential care, physical disability care homes like the Halcon Centre can also provide valuable, short-term respite for young adults with physical disabilities. These short-term respite stays can provide a welcome break for young adults with physical disabilities in well-equipped care homes for physically disabled people, as well as a breather for family members who may assist with the individual’s daily care.
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.
