Personalized health support services are a crucial building block of Australia’s disability support network.
By working with patients one-on-one, a team creates an individualized support plan that can increase daily independence and well-being. The goal is to improve long-term health outcomes and overall wellbeing and provide the right support so that anyone can lead a fulfilling, enriching life and meet their goals.
Countless Australians have reported better day-to-day wellbeing and stronger overall health outcomes thanks to these personalized health support services. Here are a few ways that these programs can support you and your loved ones.
Assisting with Daily Tasks with the Goal of Increasing Independence
For some people, basic tasks such as washing, shaving, and getting dressed can be too complex to handle independently. However, neglecting these basic aspects of a routine leads to long-term health complications such as sores and skin conditions. These barriers also lead to greater isolation and depression due to the fact that people are not able to go out on their own.
For some participants, the most important aspect of health support services is assistance with basic daily tasks. In NDIS capacity evaluations, one of the primary things that evaluators look out for is struggles with daily routines. Once these needs are identified, a patient’s support team can come up with a plan to provide the right support.
Some personalized health support plans include a home health aide who can provide assistance with these tasks daily. Other people may have days where they feel stronger and are able to conduct these tasks independently, but still need some supervision.
Improve Health Outcomes by Coordinating Access to Treatment
Nearly half of Australians with disabilities see 3 or more health professionals to treat their condition. That makes managing medical appointments a full-time job that requires considerable logistical organization, physical movement, and coordination. Depending on their condition, the patient may not have the capacity to manage such complex needs on their own.
Besides doctor’s appointments, many people with disabilities or chronic conditions have other regular appointments they need to attend as part of their health plan, such as physical therapy or occupational therapy. Without the right support, patients skip these appointments. Skipping appointments sets back someone’s long-term health outcomes.
Personalized health support services assist patients with managing their overall medical plan. This can look like having a health aide on hand to help with transportation to appointments or scheduling in-home visits for patients with limited mobility. They can also assist people with cognitive disabilities or impairments with managing appointments and medication schedules.
Health support service workers can also function as patient advocates. While medical professionals have the patient’s best interests at heart, they are very busy, and crucial information can slip through the cracks without someone on hand to act as an advocate.
Additionally, health support workers are also more familiar with the patient’s day-to-day challenges and their personal goals for their treatment and can advise doctors on how to incorporate that into their treatment plans.
Increase Social Participation for Better Mental Health
According to scientific studies, people with disabilities experience much higher rates of loneliness than their able-bodied counterparts. This outcome was replicated in studies from across the world, showing that loneliness is a universal problem for disabled people.
Many places are still not physically accessible, even in advanced societies such as Australia, preventing people with additional support needs from enjoying the same activities as everyone else. Many disabled people are also exhausted from dealing with complex medical needs without the right support, leaving them with little energy for other activities.
That is why personalized health support services go beyond basic tasks and meeting medical needs. The goal with these services is to improve a participant’s overall quality of life, including their social cohesion if that is one of their goals. Social inclusion is linked to better overall well-being and long-term health outcomes, so these goals often go hand in hand.
By providing participants with the right assistance with daily tasks, health support services free up their energy to pursue their interests. A health support team can also connect participants to activities and community centers in the area that are accessible but which they may not know about.
The Path to Better Daily and Long-Term Well-Being
Personalized health support services that are created with participant needs and goals in mind are the most important tools at our disposal for improving short-term and long-term well-being.
The contents of each support plan will differ depending on the patient’s needs and can include anything from a home health aide to assist with dressing and daily chores to transportation to medical appointments. This support means patients experience less stress in their day-to-day lives and enjoy better overall satisfaction with their well-being.
