Meal Time for the Frail

Even meal time can be a bit of a challenge with a bed ridden individual because the care giver will need to make sure that they can safely get the patient into a sitting position or they will often time need to feed that person by hand to assure that they get the food properly. These individuals also need to eat on specific time tables so scheduling meals is a must to assure things flow smoothly. In addition, the person’s ability to chew and/or swallow needs to be factored in. If teh patient is on a semi-solid or liquid diet, then the caregiver has to be aware of the nutritional quality of the foods to ensure that the patient is adequately nourished.

Traveling with a Frail Person

Even if a person is bedridden, eventualities may arise where they will need to venture out of the house. Remember that the person would still enjoy being out of their bed even if they have limited mobility. A trip to the doctor or an important family event like a wedding needs to be carefully planned. The obvious measures would be using the handicapped parking or parking as close to the building as possible. But with the frail, you also have to take into consideration other factors like sunlight and heat within the car. There is nothing worse having to sit on scalding hot upholstery on a car. Now imagine if you are disabled and cannot moved to find a comfortable spot. As insignificant a point as it may seem to the abled body, to a frail person it could make the difference between burns or even ulcers if the area gets infected.

Patient Care for the Bedridden

Bedridden patients are prone to bed sores and a range of skin diseases if they are not cared for appropriately. This means regular bathing and changing of adequately cleaned bed lined, turning the person onto different positions and avoiding food spills or messing (urine, feces) on the clothing or linen.

A bedridden patient still enjoys entertainment and a system for them to control the TV, radio or lights will greatly improve the quality of life and give the patient some sense of independence. Another important consideration is a buzzer or bell to attract the caregiver’s attention. The inability to communicate can in certain situations mean life or death. As a caregiver, you cannot always be by the patient’s bedside but a proper means to monitor the patient and be reached remotely is important.

Taking on the job to care for the frail or elderly is no easy task. If it is not your occupation and you do not have the training for it, there is a lot to learn and even more to think about at every turn. The best place to get started is to speak to the patient’s doctor, visit a nursing home or institution caring for a people with similar impairments and possibly even paying a nursing sister to come over and teach you on ways to take care of the person for a few days.

It is very difficult to prove or disprove the extent of pain that a person is in and that is the reason that without hard evidence it can be near impossible to prove. The applicative word here in that statement is the words are near impossible and not impossible.

Proving Pain for Disability

This is where a patient having a long relationship with a family doctor can prove immensely indispensable in proving the actual pain severity and the onset timeline. That is because a physician who has regularly treated the patient has likely seen that patient go from a state of good health and watched them decline into the present condition.

Various tests to determine nerve root compression and ascertain that the pain is having a pronounced physiological response will assist in proving that the ailment is impairing the level of function and possible warrants consideration for disability. Many applicants are discouraged by the process but it has to be remembered that the Social Security Department protects the interests of all citizens by filtering out the fraudulent applicants from those that genuinely need benefits. Sometimes, cases that are genuine do get rejected but an appeal or two in a genuine case will often result in the desired results.

Degenerative Disc and Injury Back Pain

Degenerative disc diseases are the main type of back pain conditions where a disability may be considered. Not only is there visual proof of disc damage, through X-rays or an MRI, but the degree of nerve impingement can be assessed. This is in stark contrast to chronic back pain problems associated with muscle and ligament damage of gradual onset. However, disc degeneration is still difficult to prove when compared to back pain associated with injuries which is of a sudden onset.

One of the factors that the Social Security Disability Department will consider when reviewing a case that is due to Degenerating Discs is the age of the person whom is filing for Disability. In other words how much useful and productive working time would this individual have if they were not disabled.

Disability or Treatment?

Once this has been determined the Social Security people will make a determination as to whether it is most cost effective to have surgery to repair the issue, such as a fusion, or if there are other options that might return this person to an active and productive member of society.

The cost of that fact is weighed against the cost of putting them on either complete or partial disability. The decision is more often than not based on strict guidelines that are simply black and white. The patient will often be denied on the first attempt and may need to file an appeal if they believe that the decision was not correct. That means more time and tests in order to get back to the appeal process.

Being blind, one does not really know what is before them as far as obstacles, that is, until they find them the hard way. Initially, clearing all walkways of clutter is of great help. There is no need to move set items like furniture and so on. These type things become a good tool in learning and practicing mobility skills, which is the top priority in learning to function blind in the world around them.

Moving Around the House when Blind

To gain some insight into the initial needs of a blind person entering the household, close your eyes and try to navigate your way across the room. Then, repeat this in all the areas of the home that are most likely to be frequented by the blind individual. This will give you an idea if something is in need of adjustment. Take note though, the blind cannot open their eyes and see when faced with an obstacle. Patience is truly a virtue when dealing with the blind. Everything they do is as if for the very first time. Granted, time and practice do bring comfort and ease of movement.

Some aids that can be introduced into the home to assist a blind person fall more into the area of peace of mind. A really great aid is a talking clock. The desire to know the time of day when you cannot see it is just as important for the mind’s sake. Most household aids for the blind or visually impaired can be looked at in two categories, those concerning safety and the others aiding in comfort, for lack of a better word.

Sticky Bump Dots for the Blind

Providing a means of identification, while discerning the difference between a tube of toothpaste and a tube of hemorrhoid ointment, is as simple as a glance for the sighted person. Not so for the blind or visually impaired. The same is true for many other common household items.

One of the best yet simplest blind aids available is simple self-stick bump dots. Apply the bump dots to a given item in a pattern or placement location on an item and it can be easily recognized when picked up. Simple steps like this allow the blind or visually impaired to regain some sense of independence. Also, it keeps the likelihood of accidental or harmful use to a minimum. The use of bump dots can go from the basics of identifying cosmetics to allowing proper use of things like a microwave and even washer and dryer. The use of these is only limited by the creativity used to implement the bump dots.

There is no real need to alter or apply aids to most household functions for example, light switches, doorknobs and steps. The mind’s “muscle memory” aspect kicks in fairly quickly and reaching for these common things remains like second nature. Certain set dimensions are standard in the home building industry. Along with the above mentioned, cabinets, countertops, vanities, medicine cabinets and even toilets tend to follow common placement rules.

The safety aids tend to be more the nature of practicing common sense by the sighted in the home. Things like closing cabinets, leaving doors either closed or open, removing protrusions at head level are very important in aiding to the mobility of the blind. Before learning to use a cane, the blind tend to feel around chest to shoulder height to aid them in navigation, hence, leaving their face exposed to objects protruding at that level. This becomes even more important as they learn and rely more on their cane.

As the person “matures” in their blindness or visual impairment, the need for constant vigilance lessens somewhat. Learning to read Braille enables easier marking of objects and the level of confidence gained by that person will enable almost flawless integration into the household.

Upon being determined blind or legally blind, the process is quite different than that of other disability applications. As mentioned previously, the claims approval rate is nearly 100%. The turnaround to decision and starting benefits is approximately 4 months as compared to other types of disability claims where the average decision/benefit time is 18-24 months. Along with monetary benefits comes medical benefit approval via Medicare at 2 years from the date of approval of benefits. The date of benefits is retroactive to the date of application with medical bill coverage extending back beyond that date for 3-6 months for applicable medical bills.

The amount of monetary benefit is determined by rate of FICA tax deducted from one’s employment income. The average monthly benefit amount generally falls in the area of $700 to $900. For those applicants deemed not qualified due to lack of sufficient pay into social security, be it through lack of work history in the specified time period or in the case of a child, there is another avenue available – SSI. SSI, or more correctly, Supplemental Security Income, is determined by the Social Security Administration, but it is managed at the individual state level.

While blindness can be viewed as a fast track to obtaining one’s due benefits, the chance of claim denial does exist. However small, it is there. As with any dealings with the Social Security Administration concerning disability benefits, the hiring of an attorney specializing in disability claims should be considered. Attorneys familiar with the claims process can assure that you have the proper forms completed and that medical paperwork supporting your claim is adequate and sufficient enough in volume to overwhelmingly support your claim. When viewed on the basis of strength of case, the use of an attorney is not necessarily needed in a blind person’s application process.

The chances of returning to gainful employment are far more woeful than those involved with benefit approval/denial. Less than 0.075% of the blind in the world are employed in a gainful capacity. The nature of the compensation received by an attorney is a  25% or a cap at $5000 deducted from the lump sum of back benefits accumulated during the  application process.

If you are blind, a sighted person, family or friend, doing the paperwork is adequate in most cases. This highlights another self-defeating issue when dealing with the Social Security Administration. While mandated by federal law to provide accessible material for the blind, they do not offer this for the application process. They will offer to read everything and to assist in the writing needed. Being blind, it is very difficult to trust someone you cannot see and do not know. This is where the family member or good friend comes in. Even should you hire an attorney, someone sighted whom you trust is very much the number one requirement in undertaking this whole process.

Airport Transfer and Handicap Parking

The first challenge is often simply getting into an airport. While the laws state that there must be a certain amount of handicapped parking available, it is quite often already in use and still can present a long walk from the parking garage to the terminal. If you are looking at an airport transfer, a conventional taxi may not do if your partner is wheelchair-bound.

Handicap Check Points at the Airport

One of the difficulties in check-in is that while it might take an average healthy individual up to two hours to get through the check points in the boarding line, a handicapped person going through that same line could take longer.

There are often more items that need to be checked because often a disabled individual will have metal objects like canes, braces and wheelchairs that set off the metal detectors. In addition, a large cache of medication may have to be checked and screened prior to boarding the plane. All of this can cause not only a loss of time but some amount of stress to both the disabled traveler and their partner.

Oxygen Tanks and Medication for the Disabled Air Traveler

It is also good to remember that the TSA agents at the airport in the United States have to make sure the flights are safe and so therefore scrutinize everything and anything. If the disabled person need items like specific liquids or oxygen in order to sustain themselves, then these items will cause more of a delay in the check through lines.

It is possible to avoid much of this by putting such items in checked baggage but many people do not trust doing that and should that luggage be lost the disabled person’s health could be at risk in some cases. The best advise here is to make sure that everything you will be carrying on works and that you know how to make it function so that if the airport employees need to see it operate you can do so to prove that it is a functioning item.

Handicap Facilities in the Airport

It is also a good idea when trekking through an airport to keep in mind where the nearest restroom is because the last thing anyone wants is to be rushing around on a wheelchair in search of a toilet. Knowing the location of more than one restroom is useful especially if you are faced with an occupied stall where the occupant is taking longer than usual.

Living Quarters and Home Environment

In a house where there is a disabled or physically challenged person, the members of the household need to consider how the disabled person might have to adjust and cope with getting around that obstacle. Simple things that often are not even thought of can become a problem for a disabled partner.

For example while leaving a coffee table in the middle of the floor in a living room is often quite acceptable in a normal home. Throw rugs which have long been used in the home for decoration can now become a possible trip and fall hazard for the disabled person.

The family can also expect that the disabled person will have a rather steep adjustment curve. This person is often going from a rather active former life style to one where they are often close to sedimentary. Things that the person could easily do without a thought now become a challenge to do.

The one thing that is important to consider in this situation is to take into consideration the feelings of the individual that has the disability. It is often very helpful to include them in discussions about the arrangements and the problems that might be foreseen. The disabled person might think that some of the spouses concerns are not founded and on the flip side of that, something that might not have even crossed the minds of the spouse could end up being a huge concern for the disabled person who will have to deal with it.

Whatever the case, the focus should be on returning to normal life as soon as possible and this means making changes for everybody’s comfort and convenience. For example, adaptive driving hand controls may be one of the many changes that can be made to give a loved one the ability to return to a better level of functioning. It will still allow everybody to use the family car and return some level of independence back to the disabled family member.

Coping with Life with a Disabled Partner

Life with a disabled partner may be a challenge for everyone concerned to attempt to learn and cope with the disability. It is not only the person that has a disability that is going to have issues to deal with. The spouse and other family members will also have some issues to deal to be able to make it through this challenge in a healthy and safe manner for everyone concerned.

Often times when the family looks at the disability and the home where the disabled person is living they might see that there are some actual modifications that will need to be made to the home in order to make it hospitable and safe for the disabled person.

Wheelchair accessibility at home by building an entrance or exit ramp might need to be installed for wheel chairs. Or perhaps the disabled person is going to need some changes made to the shower or the toilet is in order for them to be able to safely use the area. A host of mobility  aids are available that can make simple procedures more easier for the disabled family member.

It is important to consider the expected length of the disability and the severity in making a plan for the overall project. Remember that the disabled person is already feeling like a burden and the more that you can alleviate that feeling and give them independence, the better they will feel and the faster they will improve. Even with a permanent disability, the family member may still want the level of independence that they enjoyed prior to the onset of the disability.

Screen Readers and Magnifiers

This combination only works well with persons being “visually impaired” as compared to the “blind,” who have no need for a screen magnifier, let alone a computer screen. Also, added to the mix are the developers of operating systems whom have  begun to add rudimentary versions of accessibility programs to their operating systems.

Of the scores of screen reader/magnifier software programs available on the market today, only a few are balanced and dynamic enough to provide the blind with the means to navigate smoothly on a computer. For the visually impaired the field is larger as the requirements needing to be met are far less stringent. If any given software is dynamic enough for a blind person; it will more than meet the needs of the visually impaired.

The following are the predominant programs used by most blind services throughout the world.

Jaws by Freedom Scientific

Jaws is arguably the most robust, dynamic and versatile of the screen readers out there. It works well within most popular office programs along with most of the commonly used web browsers. It is, however, a Windows based program.

With up to six hundred basic commands and thousands of others, learning Jaws is a long and trying process. The end result is well worth the effort. Many blind users feel that Jaws can return a blind person to being a productive interactive member of society.

Zoom Text by AI Squared

Zoom Text is a screen magnifier/reader that is limited as a reader but dynamic as a magnifier. It is in its own right a fairly good reader, but lacks the depth and dynamics of ones like Jaws and Windows Eyes. With an easy to use interface and natural speak voice plug-in it is a fun and enjoyable software for the visually impaired.

Using Zoom Text requires the use of some sight, be it diminished or not. It functions well as a web reader and also with other text formats. The magnification feature is fully adjustable and very easy to navigate. Zoom Text can put the joy back into reading for those visually impaired that refuse to relegate themselves to “audio books”.

Web Anywhere by Washington.edu

Web Anywhere is a  free screen reader arena. It is a web based program that allows blind users to navigate the web from anywhere and on any computer. With only a few keyboard commands to learn one can be off and surfing very quickly. It is not a full featured screen reader, but it is a simple and effective tool for a blind person to use when their own computer is not available.

While only a few of the many programs available were mentioned above, there are many others. Also of note is the lack of Apple based software. While Snow Leopard OS has what is referenced as “accessibility” software called Voice over, it lacks the power of the Windowa based software to allow the blind to be truly functional on a computer.

While great strides have been made as far as software for the blind and visually impaired is concerned, even the most intelligent of software cannot overcome the lack of proper and uniform formatting and scripting of web content and software programs. Until there is adherence to set standards even the best of readers will at some time bog down and fail.

Process to Apply for Disability

The first step that needs to be undertaken is to apply for Social Security Disability, Medicare and/or Medicaid. This can be done via hard copy or on the online. The reason to start on this as soon as possible is that this in its self can take from two to three years.

The claimant will likely be called into a local Social Security Office after filing the initial paperwork. Here the SSA will verify what you have claimed and ensure that all the information needed to actually start the claims process is available.

It is not uncommon to be refused benefits on the first attempt. This can be quite disconcerting to an applicant but it is not a lost battle and there is no need to quit just yet. A person that is denied may file for an appeal. This will mean a hearing with a judge or judges advocate and the applicant will ave a chance to present their case.

It is of utmost importance to keep meticulous record of each and every document and step. Copies of all medical reports are necessary and this should not be the original or only copy that you have in your possession.

Lawyer/Attorney for Disability

Most people opt for hiring an attorney because the stress of dealing with the system is overwhelming and many applicants stop trying after a while. A legal representative will ensue that every step is undertaken in a timely manner because they will only get paid if the case is settled in your favor.

The legal representative is allowed by law to receive no more than 25 percent of the award. A judge may be able to lower that amount if they feel that the attorney was not efficient in handling the case on behalf of the applicant.

Disability Medical Assessment

The claimant will likely be asked to submit to various tests by a doctor chosen by the SSA and this has to be completed as required. Medical assessments can be quite trying in that the doctor will be very thorough in the evaluation in order to identify fraudulent applicants. If there is truly a disability, the applicant should not fail this assessment.

It is also advisable during a trip to the doctor to ask about getting a handicap sticker for the vehicle of the disabled person. The doctor often only has to fill out a form which is then taken by the individual to the tag office and wither a handicap placard or a handicap plate is issued. It is quick and easy and may actually bolster your chances at getting an award because this is further proof that a medical professional thinks that the injury is serious enough to warrant special treatment.

Keep in mind during this process that if the injury or ailment is not serious there is a strong chance that  the disability benefits will not be awarded.

There are different types of physical and development disability camps for children. There may be disability camps that accept all handicapped kids, while there are others that accept kids with specific needs. These handicap camps range from learning disability camps to cancer camps to physical disabilities.

Camps for kids with disabilities

• The June Rusche Hamrah Camps for All : This is a non-profit organization that works in co-ordination with various special needs groups to provide an accessible environment for disabled kids. It offers ample opportunity for activities, education and therapeutic needs of children of all ages.

• Very Special Camps : This is an online camp directory for locating special needs camps. They have a variety of camps to choose from depending on your special need and activities preferred.

• Children’s Association for Maximum Potential : is a weeklong camping session held every summer to benefit kids with special needs.

• Timbertop Camp : This non-profit camp is jointly sponsored by YMCA and the Association for Services for Learning Disabilities. It is designed for children who require extra care and attention due to their various types of learning disabilities.

• Lose the Training Wheels : is an organization dedicated to teaching children with disabilities how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle and become independent bike riders.

• Camp Lee Mar : helps children with learning and development difficulties to participate in regular camping activities and improve on their interpersonal and activity skills.

Special needs camps for kids with disabilities are abundant in variety and availability. There are disability camps that serve specific needs and wants of children with learning, behavioral and physical disabilities. While regular camps are well equipped for disabled kids as well, there are also specific camps to help a child adjust better around similar children.

A handicap camp is one of the best ways to allow a child to interact with other kids who are in a similar situation and thus allow them to develop their communication skills, as well as make friends. These tips and resources may serve as a starting guide to your perfect special needs summer camp search.

What to expect out of a handicap camp?

A child with special needs has the same basic needs when it comes to the growing up process. With an extra emphasis on addressing their unique disabilities, a handicap camp is designed to benefit kids by developing their interpersonal skills and also making sure they have a good time.

Even though each disability camp has its own way of conducting activities, there are some basic aspects that must be expected out of all of them. Special needs summer camps exist to make sure kids are involved in several activities and unique interests that develop their athletic and creative sides. Some of these handicap camps are designed to address specific disabilities so that children do not have to feel out of place.

Moreover, this encourages interaction with other kids, and helps them develop inner confidence. These disability camps also allow kids to have an opportunity to develop friendships, respect elders and also develop leadership skills. As they are away from their parents for extended periods of time, they also learn to become independent and self-reliant.

Different types of special needs summer camps

Deciding on the correct kind of disabled camp for your child is very important. It is essential that you include your child in this decision as they might have specific requests as well. The first step is to determine the duration of the camp. Camps range from daytime only, weekend, or even entire summers. Talking to your child and figuring out what would be best for them and their special needs would benefit all. After deciding on the duration, one must look into the different types of camps.

Inclusionary camps are the main kind of camps that have existed for years. However, in recent years, the ADA – The Americans with Disabilities Act – requires that all camps must make appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities. This may include adding wheelchair accessibility ramps, wider hallways and so on. In this way, regular camps can now accommodate special needs kids and make them feel welcome.

Sometimes, the disability of a child makes it impossible for them to attend a regular camp. The family might even prefer not to send them to a regular camp for the fear that the child may feel out of place there. Camps for kids with disabilities are very common these days.

Finding the correct kind of special needs camp is essential to the growth and confidence building process of the kid. Conducting a lot of research and asking other parents for recommendations would help in making the right decision for your child. Refer to the List of Camps for Kids with Disabilities.