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Tips for Becoming a Family Caregiver for a Child with a Disability

April 29, 2021

According to the Autism Society, the number of autistic children in the United States has risen from 1 in 125 children in 2010 to 1 in 54 in 2020. This Autism Awareness Month, we want to make sure that individuals with autism and their loved ones can access the support and care they need to live their best lives!

Benefits of Home Care for a Child with Autism

Home care for children with disabilities, like autism, can be life-changing because it offers them one-on-one support at home, where they need it. This can range from supporting them with learning and behavioral care to offering social support. 

What’s more, being a family caregiver means this type of care will come from a familiar face, rather than a stranger in the recipient of care’s home. They can also maintain dignity and save money by staying in their own home, instead of moving into residential care or traveling to specialist facilities.

For caregivers taking care of a loved one, Best Care believes you should be paid for all the hard work you do. Here are some tips for becoming a caregiver for a disabled child.

Access Training

Depending on the needs of the recipient of care, and your own level of training, it’s likely you’ll need to complete some sort of training before you can begin providing home care for a special needs child. 

Your PCA training will teach you all you need to know about the daily tasks and related job duties of a personal care assistant. 

Be Compensated

Although being a family caregiver often starts as an act of love and care, it can quickly become as demanding as a job. You deserve to be compensated for the work you do, so you can go on supporting your loved one as needed.

Working with a home care agency like Best Care can help you to get paid for your time. In Minnesota, you can be compensated for a maximum of 275 hours of care each month under the Minnesota PCA Program. Find out more about this process and whether you’re eligible.

Find Support

Taking care of a child with autism can be incredibly rewarding, but there are also challenges that come along with it. You also need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Find a community and support network, perhaps through local autism parenting or caregiver groups, so that you have somewhere to turn to when you have questions or worries.

Of course, the team at Best Care is also always here to answer your questions. If you want to find out more about the process of becoming a PCA, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly team. We’re here to help! 

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