“The training at the rehabilitation center helped me a lot; I am more confident and have learned to discover what I am capable of—more than I thought!”
Are you already thinking about living independently? If so, where would you like to live, how, and with whom? Living on your own can be more challenging if you have a condition. This may be due to your health, protective attitudes from your parents, or not knowing how to arrange things because you need special accommodations.
Different housing options
There are various housing options, including for young people with physical disabilities. The best option for you depends on what you want and what you need. We have therefore summarized the different possibilities for you.
Household and finances
When you live on your own, you will also need to manage your household. The house needs to be kept clean, groceries need to be bought, meals prepared, and you need to manage your money and know how to request help or access services. How you do this depends on your physical abilities and the support you need. The level of care and household assistance varies depending on the type of housing. You may also need to learn certain skills yourself. In any case, it is important that you decide for yourself what you want (read more in the theme I) and know your own possibilities and limitations.
Housing preferences and requirements
There are many housing options, ranging from fully independent living to fully assisted care. There are also trial options, such as supported living, if you want to try out a particular living arrangement.
To find out what suits you best, you will need to consider a number of things.
For example: Do you want to live alone or with one or more people? Do you want opportunities to eat or meet others in a shared space? Can you take care of yourself, or do you need (a lot of) assistance? Where would you like to live? To learn more about the different housing options available, this page provides information to help you make a clearer choice.
Once you have thought this through, you will likely have an idea of the type of living environment that meets your needs. Choosing a housing option does not mean it is permanent. For example, you can work with a care provider to create a plan for how you want to live. Your preferences may fit an existing housing option, or a new type of living arrangement may be created to meet your specific needs.
When you live on your own, you will also be responsible for running your household. The house needs to be cleaned, groceries need to be bought, and meals need to be prepared. How you manage these tasks depends on your physical abilities and the support you may need. The level of care and household assistance varies depending on the type of housing. You may also need to practice and develop certain skills yourself.
Support from an occupational therapist
An occupational therapist can help you learn skills such as cleaning and cooking. At a rehabilitation center, you can train these skills under the guidance of an occupational therapist and receive tips and tricks tailored to your condition.
Together with you, the occupational therapist will identify problem areas and obstacles, and determine which skills still need practice for performing certain household tasks.
This may include:
Motor skills: practicing alternative ways to perform tasks and/or using assistive devices.
Process skills: simplifying tasks and practicing how to structure them.
Planning skills: breaking tasks into smaller steps, creating daily and weekly schedules, setting fixed times for certain tasks, taking enough breaks, and delegating tasks if needed.
Household assistance: receiving help where necessary.
Discuss with your (rehabilitation) doctor, nurse, or occupational therapist what options are available for you.
