KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, but it is especially important for people living with a disability.
- Disability participants in Australia may face a range of challenges when it comes to maintaining their health and fitness.
- There are a variety of resources available to help disability participants in Australia live a healthy and active life, including NDIS-funded support services and community organizations offering inclusive fitness programs.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Good health is underrated. Most times healthcare isn’t prioritized until a case has resulted in a chronic condition, where we just can’t live without pills or hospital appointments.
Poor health care certainly has effects that we can save ourselves from if we pay attention to living healthily. A healthy lifestyle can save you the stress of so many headaches in the future.
IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS FOR DISABILITY PARTICIPANTS
Everyone has to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but persons with disabilities need to do so even more so. Obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes are just a few of the health concerns that regular exercise and proper eating habits can help avoid or control. Exercise can enhance mental health and wellness in addition to its physical advantages by lowering stress and anxiety, boosting self-esteem, and fostering social relationships.
PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING DEFINITION
This covers an individual’s exercise routine and balanced nutrition. Physical activities such as walking, running, dancing, and stretching help to keep the body in good shape.
The report shows that some diseases and conditions are sometimes caused by physical inactivity. People having little or no physical activity most times are at higher risk of
- Dementia ( a condition whereby an individual gets to experience memory loss, and social inactiveness)
- Diabetes (a disease as a result of too much sugar in the blood)
- Stroke(This occurs as a result of damage in the brain)
- Heart diseases and some other health conditions
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PHYSICAL DISABILITY
A physical disability could be acquired(accidents, infections ), or hereditary/congenital (from birth). Examples of physical disability are cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, carpal tunnel syndrome
A physical disability is a limitation to living a healthy lifestyle. This physical disability can affect one’s physical health condition in a way that he or she finds it difficult to engage in activities like exercises.
HOW THE NDIS INTERVENES WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
People with physical disabilities are most times denied access to some things like employment, and interaction with their environment. Some of them have limited resources to support themselves through their daily life.
Individuals with physical disabilities that affect their daily activities could register in NDIS to get the support they need. The NDIS supports people with physical disabilities. Before proceeding with registration, such individuals must possess the criteria ( fit into the NDIS checklist) for NDIS participants.
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health determines how we cope with stress, our ability to socialize, and our learning abilities.
Getting regular exercise, eating healthy, resting when necessary, and focusing on positivity are factors in taking care of your mental health.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED AS A MENTAL DISABILITY
A mental disability is a condition that causes behavioral changes in a person.
Mental disability has a very high effect on the health of an individual. Individuals with a mental disability such as dementia, or psychotic disorder are most likely to have difficulty living healthily.
HOW THE NDIS INTERVENES IN MENTAL DISABILITY
The NDIS provides help to individuals with mental disabilities that have difficulty in engaging their physical activities. If an individual meets the criteria of being an NDIS participant, they can register to get the support they need.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
Mental health and physical health can have some correlation. For example, Individuals with physical health conditions are mostly like to develop mental health conditions like depression, and anxiety.
People with mental health conditions have a higher risk of having physical health conditions like heart disease. In conclusion, taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health.
WHAT IS A HEALTH NEED?
The health need of an individual covers not just his or her health care but also accommodation, employment opportunities, social life, and a few others.
- Eating balanced diet
- Exercising
- Interacting with your physical environment
- Asking for support when needed
- Taking enough rest
All these listed above contribute highly to having good health. As individuals, we can reduce the risk of putting ourselves into unfavorable health conditions when we pay attention to little things that we feel don’t really matter.
To connect to a disability care provider with ease, visit www.mycareplace.com now to enjoy the best services nearest to you.
Helpful Resources
- NDIS Exercise Physiology and Personal Training: https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan/about-your-funding/exercise-physiology-and-personal-training
- Inclusive Fitness Australia: https://inclusivefitnessaus.org/
- Disability Sports Australia: https://www.sports.org.au/