November 5th is World Carers' Day. At Aspace, it's a very special day as most of our professionals focus on the assistance and care of people with cerebral palsy.
The United Nations (UN) recognized this day in 2014 at the General Assembly, with the aim of make visible all those professionals and family members who take care of people with special needs in their day to day.
It is a date to commemorate and celebrate the work of those who care about the people who need assistance in their daily life, not only professionals, but also families and especially women.
It is important to note that the majority of professional and non-professional carers are women. In the report Quality of life of non-professional caregivers, carried out by the Pere Tarrés Foundation, it shows that 8 out of 10 non-professional carers are women and 52% are between 45 and 64 years old. Formal caregivers are women in 75% of cases. Figures that support the role of women's carers culturally and socially speaking.
Needs and care of people with cerebral palsy
The role of caregivers is particularly important for patients with cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental diseases. According to the Aspace Confederation, in its study #168 hours, 80% of people with cerebral palsy require a great deal of support. This means that care must be provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It is important to note that cerebral palsy involves multiple disabilities. Specifically, 1 in 2 people with cerebral palsy also have an intellectual disability, 1 in 4 lacks oral communication, 1 in 3 is unable to walk, 3 in 4 experience pain and 1 in 10 have a disability visual
The supports intended for health are necessary for functional habilitation. They allow preserving and improving a person's health so that they can have greater autonomy.
What do professional caregivers do?
Professional care is essential in the day-to-day life of patients with disabilities to improve their quality of life, help them improve their symptoms and increase their autonomy. The work of professional caregivers consists of in:
Physical support
Professionals who deal with the person's daily life, from personal care to commuting. This includes nutrition, treatments for chronic pain and epilepsy. Those in charge of providing this help are physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and medical experts.
Communication support
Material supports are used to encourage augmentative communication (complements the person's communication skills) and alternative communication (used when oral communication is not possible). The speech therapist is responsible for carrying out these types of therapies.
Intellectual support
Intellectual support helps patients understand, relate and interact with the environment through cognitive accessibility. The facilitator uses tools such as signage, pictograms or easy reading to carry it out.
At Aspace we offer different supports to people with neurodevelopmental diseases from childhood to old age. Caring professionals act in the area of health, social and education through the following services:
- Ambulatory care
- rehabilitation
- day hospital
- School.
- CDIAP.
- Day care centers.
- residence
- sport
If you need more information about the professional care offered by Aspace, contact us.
