VALLEYLIFE helps a large References and Resources

amount of people with disabilities

http://www.valleylifeaz.org/
in the community in their
everyday lives. Another group https://journals.lww.com/nursingmadeinc
that also helps these people are rediblyeasy/Fulltext/2014/11000/Caring_f
nurses in the hospitals or clinics. or___Patients_with_disabilities.5.aspx
This will give some more For more information about
information about how nurses disabilities and support visit:
care for their patients with
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityand
disabilities in healthcare.
health/people.html
Types of Disabilites
There are a variety of disabilites
that people have, and nurses care
for these people on a daily basis.
Some of those disabilities are:
Cognitive Disabilities
§ Traumatic Brain Injury
§ Down Syndrome
§ Autism Spectrum
§ Mental disorders
Linguistic Disabilities
§ Cleft Palate
§ Expressive Aphasia
Physical Disabilities
§ Stroke
§ Amputation
§
§
Cerebral Palsy
Muscular Dystrophy Nursing and
Disabilities
§ ALS
Visual/Hearing Disabilities
§ Blind/vision loss
§ Deaf/hearing loss VALLEYLIFE Legacy of Love Gala
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Self Care
Some people with disabilities may need help “My advice to other disabled people
with daily self-care activities such as would be, concentrate on things your
brushing their teeth, bathing, and dressing.
Giving options as to when they would like
disability doesn’t prevent you doing
these activities done or how is important to well, and don’t regret the things it
maintain autonomy and independence in interferes with. Don’t be disabled in
their lives. It is also essential to have spirit as well as physically.”
patience when delivering this care to your -Stephen Hawking
patients as it can be a tiring task for them as
well.

Nursing Care
Physical Assessment
§ Physical assessment is essential in
providing the best care to your
patients with disabilities
§ The focus of assessment should be
regarding their disability
§ Know their strengths and
limitations to best help them
Diet
People with disabilities should partake in
similar die habits as anyone else unless it is
deemed as unsafe for a certain person. For
example, an individual with a cleft palate or
someone who has just had a stroke may need
testing to see how they are swallowing and
tolerating certain foods and may need a soft
food diet if necessary.

Daily Activities
Some people with disabilities may have
limitations in their activity, but some may
excel. People with no physical disability
can partake in normal activity and move
around with ease. People with physical
disabilities can attend physical therapy or
nurses can simply help with range of
motion. This includes moving the
extremity or part of the body for the
person to help maintain mobility in the
joints and muscle tone.