Now, more than ever, disability support workers are in-demand. Whether they are required to work in care facilities or live with their clients to provide 24-hour care, their tasks and responsibilities cannot be underestimated. This type of career deals with a variety of issues and topics on a daily basis, including drugs, alcohol, relationships, sex, family conflict, and education or career choices.
But even with this basic knowledge of what the profession is about and what it entails, we can’t resist asking the question of what really goes on in the life of a disability support worker. Read on and find out what happens in a day in the life of a disability support worker.
What Happens in a Day in the Life of a Disability Support Worker?
Being able to provide support and assistance to people living with disabilities is a rewarding job. Plus, no two days are exactly the same since the tasks are dependent on the client’s needs. It is fast-paced, challenging, and diverse.
We met Shannon, a mum of two, who works as a disability and elderly support worker. When asked why she chose this line of work, she said that she wanted a career that would give back to the community and had the flexibility to fit with her family life.
Shannon’s days at work vary from time to time, which is ideal for people who don’t like to be bound to a desk all day. However, typical days involve helping the elderly and people with disabilities with a range of support requirements, including personal care, transport, personal support, domestic assistance, and meal preparation.
Quote obviously, one of the most challenging parts of the job is getting to know a client. But Shannon has a technique for doing that, which involves having the right communication with them. It’s important to ask many questions because this is how you get answers from clients. It’s a bonus that her clients actually love to chat, which she enjoys very much.
Many of us think that we know everything about the life of a disability support worker. However, there are things that happen behind closed doors that Shannon says have made her realize that a disability support worker should not get too attached to their client. This is especially because when they get sick and pass, it would be too painful. Furthermore, she says that workers in this field should have caring for their clients in their heart to help them deal with difficult situations and challenging behaviours. And for anyone who’s considering taking on this field, they need to have the passion to help the elderly and those living with disabilities and not just be after the perks of the job like family and life balance as well as rich employment opportunities.
Shannon emphasises the need for a disability support worker to have the patience to provide their clients’ needs first. And for this, the worker should undergo the right training and courses to be prepared for the workplace and to have the confidence to perform the responsibilities.
And for Shannon, the best part of what she does is being able to make a difference for someone and someone’s family. This is especially so since many of the elderly and people with disabilities no longer have families, and the care given by a disability support worker matters a lot to them.
You may also want to read why mums make great youth workers.
