Questions To Ask An Individual Living With Disability, Or A Caregiver, To Learn More About Their Daily Lives

As providers of patient lifts and other durable medical equipment (DME) to individuals living with disability and their families for over 30 years, we’ve heard countless times from those individuals and/or their caregivers how they wish others better understood the disability in-question and its impact on daily life. This recurring, common desire of individuals and families affected by disability prompted us to want to help by sharing the two distinct question lists below.

Keep in mind that, depending on the length and nature of your relationship with the individual living with disability, or with a friend or colleague who is a caregiver, you may already know the answers to these questions or may decide to present them a bit differently. And, don’t forget when speaking with an individual with disability, whenever feasible, engage directly with them vs. their companion or caregiver. Always remember to support the dignity and independence of someone living with disability.

You may also find it helpful to read our recent blog post about common challenges faced by individuals living with disability to inform how you word questions, which questions to ask, or to come up with some new questions of your own. Similarly, related to speaking with caregivers, you may find our previous blog post about how to show caregivers some love helpful.

Questions To Ask Individuals Challenged by Disability To Get Educated And Be Able To Support Them Better

1. What are some of the most common misconceptions about your disability?

2. How important is it to you that others understand your disability?

3. What are the biggest ways your disability impacts your daily life?

4. What does a typical day look like for you?

5. How frequently does your disability get in the way of your doing something you want to do?

6. If your disability was acquired after birth, how has your life changed since you’ve been challenged by the disability?

7. What would you most like others to understand about what it’s like living with your disability?

8. Are there any positive aspects to living with your particular disability?

9. Is there anything others can do, myself included, to better support you, e.g., are there things that I’m doing that aren’t emotionally or physically beneficial to you? Are there things that I’m NOT doing that would be emotionally or physically beneficial to you?

10. What activities or events most bring joy to your day and life?

11. Are there ways that I can advocate for you and others who are challenged by your particular disability, including fundraising to support important research or services?

Questions To Ask Caregivers Of A Loved One With Disability To Get Educated And Be Able To Support Them Better

Note that these questions are geared to loved ones of an individual living with disability who find themselves in a caregiving role vs. paid/professional caregivers.

1. What does a typical day look like for you?

2. Are there particular times of the day or certain activities related to your caregiving that are particularly stressful?

3. For someone who has recently become a caregiver vs. always been a caregiver – how has your relationship with your loved one changed since you’ve become a caregiver for them?

4. Are there tasks and chores you have to complete for the individual living with disability that you find awkward/uncomfortable?

5. Are there tasks and chores that you have to complete for the individual living with disability that are too physically and/or emotionally challenging for you? Have you investigated equipment that might help prevent injury to you or a loved one?

6. Are there any caregiving tasks that you could ask another friend or family member of the loved one with disability to help with, or for which you could hire a professional/paid caregiver?

7. What do you do to take care of your own health? How do you get a reprieve from the emotional and physical challenges of caregiving?

8. Is there anything I can do, including researching/investigating equipment or paid/professional caregivers or other long-term or in-home care options to improve your life quality?

9. What are the hardest aspects of being a caregiver?

10. What are some of the positive aspects of being a caregiver?

11. What do you wish others knew about being a caregiver?

12. What are some of the common misconceptions about being a caregiver?

13. In general, how can others best support friends and family members who are caregivers?

Always Here To Help Regarding Patient Lift And Other DME Needs

The team of disability & aging in place experts and durable medical specialists at Lift & Care Systems has been helping individuals living with disabilities in MA, CT, and RI enjoy the best quality of life and greater independence for almost 30 years. Our skilled team can install and teach you how to correctly use one or several of the following types of products that help both seniors and disabled individuals enjoy more freedom and a higher quality of life: ceiling lifts, body support & slings, staircase lift chairs, wheelchair ramps, bathroom safety for seniors, mobile lifts, pool lifts, vertical platform lifts,  wall-to-wall patient lifts.

Reach out for a free consultation about how we can help you and your loved one!