Synergy HomeCare Launches Disability Awareness Initiative

TEMPE, Arizona—SYNERGY HomeCare, an in-home care franchise, has launched its newest initiative—an all-encompassing disability care program in conjunction with October being National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

SYNERGY HomeCare’s commitment to “care for all” is reflected throughout the company’s programs and services, it said. These include Veterans homecare services, which are often covered through Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, a memory care program for those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, a hospital-to-home transitional care offering for individuals recovering from surgery or illness, and now, disability care.

“Nearly a quarter of Americans live with a disability that impacts their everyday activities, and unfortunately, many of us still don’t know how to support those individuals,” said Rich Paul, chief partnership officer of SYNERGY HomeCare. “Despite our desire to provide that support, people living with disabilities are marginalized by our lack of knowledge on how to actually provide that help. This October, we aim to take the first steps towards changing that. We aim to be one of the guiding resources on disability care education, as well as to be a primary in-home care provider for all types of people living with a disability.”

The cornerstone of the disability care program is SYNERGY HomeCare’s newest resource for family caregivers: A Family Guide to Understanding & Supporting Adults with Disabilities, which serves to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with disabilities. The guide offers in-depth guidance on how best to support people living with physical, developmental, intellectual or sensory disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 61 million Americans, or about one in four, are currently living with a disability. Although these conditions are common, it is still often difficult to know how to provide care for or engage with this population. For that reason, the SYNERGY HomeCare Family Guide includes key information that can help a loved one or caregiver with valuable information and insight.

Below are some tips that can be found within the guide:

• Using respectful language: Each individual living with a disability has their own preferred language. Learn if they prefer person-first language (i.e., “person with a disability) or identify-first language (i.e., “disabled person).
• Encourage independence: Support individuals living with a disability in achieving confidence and independence. Allow them to make their own decisions and take responsibility for what they want to do.
• Accommodate but don’t place limits: Advocate for the necessary accommodations to make your loved one comfortable and provide the best quality of life. Find activities that get everyone involved without telling them what they can and can’t do.

SYNERGY Home Care’s adult disability care program is designed to help propel people living with a physical, intellectual and/or developmental disability toward a happier, healthier, and safer quality of life at home. For those living with disabilities, staying active and engaged can be the key to living well. The program is built with multiple layers of support that incorporate an evidence-based approach focused on person-centered care.

To learn more about how SYNERGY HomeCare can help your family, visit the SYNERGY HomeCare website.