Caring for people with physical disabilities: "Are you disabled?"

Empathetic care in everyday life: understanding creates trust

The care and support of people with physical disabilities presents families and caregivers with special challenges every day - emotional, practical and sometimes social. Putting yourself in the shoes of a person who has limited or no sight, hearing or speech requires far more than just nursing skills. It requires genuine attention, empathy and the will to find individual solutions together.

Situations often arise in everyday care where small gestures can make a big difference - an understanding look, a calm voice, a respectful touch. These moments provide security, strengthen trust and help people with disabilities to maintain their independence and dignity.

At noracares, we know: Behind every physical limitation is a person with a unique story, with feelings, needs and valuable abilities. Our mission is to support you as a caregiver or relative in not only caring for these people - but to understand them, support them and enable them to live an everyday life in which they feel safe, seen and heard.

In this article you will find concrete tips, proven methods and inspiring insights into the empathetic care of people with physical disabilities - both for caregivers and relatives in Austria and Germany. Because good care starts with genuine relationships.

Understanding and overcoming challenges

Everyday life with visual impairment: Anja's story

54-year-old Anja is blind and urgently needs to go to an appointment at the eye clinic. But suddenly she can no longer find her apartment key. What is a short search for sighted people becomes a nerve-wracking situation for Anja. For minutes, she gropes over tabletops, floors and furniture - accompanied by growing anxiety.

These everyday situations impressively show how much even small obstacles can affect the sense of safety and independence of people with visual impairments.

For caregivers and relatives, support does not mean taking everything off your hands. It means acting with attentiveness, offering security and at the same time promoting independence. The environment plays an important role here - it should be clear, familiar and clearly structured.

Practical tips for dealing with visually impaired people:

• Items should always be kept in the same place - consistency creates orientation.
• Aids such as Braille and tactile markings facilitate independent navigation in the room.
• Regular orientation training,e.g. e.g. by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, promote self-confidence and mobility.
• Verbal Guidance, such as. e.g. "The table is two steps to your right", help with spatial categorization.
   

According to the Deutschen Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband (DBSV) the promotion of self-determination through everyday training and barrier-free design is an essential contribution to quality of life. The Assistance counseling via the health insurance companies and cooperation with mobility trainers are among the recommended measures.

Dealing with hearing impairment

Hearing impairments affect millions of people in Germany and Austria - and increase with age. However, the effects go far beyond not being able to hear: linguistic communication, social participation and spatial orientation are also limited.

People with impaired hearing often appear uninvolved or withdrawn - but often the problem is simply a lack of communication or difficulty communicating.

Typical signs of hearing impairment:

• Frequently asking or requesting repetition
• Very noisy TV or radio settings
• difficulties in conversations with multiple people
• Skewed head posture or reading lips

Solutions and proven tools:

For more information on technical tools, visit Österreichischer Schwerhörigenbund (ÖSB) or at the German Society of Audiology (DGA), who regularly publish new recommendations and funding opportunities .

Tips for communicating with people who are hard of hearing or deaf:

• Speak clearly, calmly and at a normal volume
• Hold Eye contact and make sure your face is clearly visible (important for lip-reading)
• Use supportive gestures, facial expressions and, if applicable, writing. Font
• Avoid turning your head away or covering your head while speaking
• search quiet environments for conversations - background noise makes understanding considerably more difficult
   

Creating safety and security

People with physical disabilities have a strong need for orientation, safety and security. Especially when a sense - such as sight or hearing - is impaired, the environment must offer protection in order to avoid uncertainty and fear.

Recommendations for a safe environment:

• Create routines: Fixed routines (e.g. Fixed routines (e.g. fixed meal times, recurring care patterns) provide security.
   
• Known Caregivers : encourage trust. The constant change of caregivers can be unsettling.
   
• Design changes carefully: New furniture, care aids or spatial changes should be introduced gradually.
   
• As much independence as possible :  - even if some tasks take longer. This strengthens self-efficacy and quality of life.
   

In Austria, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection comprehensive information on barrier-free everyday living and financial support - such as for accessible housing. e.g. for home adaptations for the disabled or assistance services.

Making security visible: How to create a trusting environment

Encourage activity, avoid isolation

An active life is much more than just movement - it means participation, enjoyment of life and self-efficacy. For people with physical disabilities in particular, it is crucial that they are not only cared for, but also encouraged and supported. After all, those who remain active maintain their abilities for longer, feel valued and remain better integrated into society.

Why activity is so important

According to studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), social isolation and a lack of exercise have a negative impact on mental and physical health. For older or impaired people in particular, withdrawing into solitude can lead to depression, muscle loss and a loss of everyday competence【Source: WHO - Ageing and Health】.

This is why: Care also means relationship work - Listening, encouraging, encouraging.

What caregivers can do specifically

• Encourage regular social contact: maintaining friendships, involving relatives, organizing excursions
• Strengthen self-responsibility: Trusting the person in need of care to make their own decisions - for example when choosing clothes, daily structure or meal planning
• Enable daily exercise: Walks, fall prevention exercises, seated exercise programs
• Cultivating common hobbies: Painting, listening to music, crafting or reading - depending on your interests
• Fine accompany: Motivating with patience and empathy instead of pressure and expectation
   

Practical example: Anja and Nora

Anja, a blind patient in need of care, had become increasingly withdrawn after an embarrassing incident. Her carer Nora noticed the change - and took action. She talked to Anja about her wishes, encouraged her to invite friends over and helped her choose clothes and style herself.

With small rituals - such as the weekly hairdressing day at home or the audio book afternoon - Nora built up her confidence. Anja gained new courage. Today, she regularly meets up with old friends again, enjoys listening to audiobooks and actively participates in life. Her self-esteem has improved noticeably - and all because someone took the time to do more than just provide care.

"It wasn't the therapy or the medication - it was the conversation that brought me back to life." - Anja

Every person deserves individual care

Caring for people with physical disabilities means much more than just providing care - it requires understanding, patience and genuine listening. Because every person has their own story, needs and strengths. Small gestures, a structured daily routine and a sensitive approach to limitations are particularly important in care.

With the right support - be it through technical aids, adapted communication or a lovingly designed environment - real quality of life can be created. Trusted care relationships, fixed daily structures and respectful interaction at eye level are the key to security and self-determination.

On noracares you will find caregivers who cater exactly to the individual needs of your loved ones - competent, human and committed. The direct communication on the platform enables you to get to know the right caregiver in an uncomplicated and trustworthy way - for a self-determined life despite physical limitations.

because care is more than just a job. It's a matter of the heart.

• Cochlea Implant - An electronic hearing aid that is implanted directly into the inner ear and enables hearing in cases of severe hearing impairment or deafness. It converts sound into electrical signals.
   
• BTE (behind-the-ear) device - Classic hearing aid that is worn behind the ear. It amplifies speech signals and is particularly common for age-related hearing loss.
   
• Hearing glasses - A practical combination of visual aid and hearing aid. Ideal for people who have a slight hearing loss and wear glasses at the same time.
   
• Braille font - Also called "braille". A dotted font that can be felt with the fingers and enables blind people to read.
   
• Accessibility - The state when spaces, paths, communication and technology are designed in such a way that they can also be used by people with physical disabilities without assistance.
   
• Self-efficacy - The knowledge and feeling that you can make a difference through your own actions. In care, self-efficacy strengthens self-esteem and joie de vivre.
   
• Assistance service - Personal assistance in everyday life for people with disabilities, for example with getting dressed, eating or getting around outside the home. In Austria and Germany, it can be subsidized by the state.
   
• Tactile markers - Tactile orientation aids such as floor grooves, markings on handrails or devices. They help blind and visually impaired people to navigate.
   
• Mobility Training - Targeted training for blind or visually impaired people to enable them to move safely in public spaces and at home. Often offered by associations for the blind.
   
• Inclusion - The goal of enabling people with and without disabilities to participate equally in social life - be it in education, work, leisure or care.