Developing Independence in Daily Living Skills
Exploring different ways to support individuals to live independently.
Living independently is something most of us take for granted; we are able to do what we want, when we want, without requiring any extra support.
However, for adults with mild or moderate learning difficulties, or for individuals with a physical disability, living independently – or semi-independently – can present a number of challenges, both within and beyond their home.
Support required for independence in daily living
Some adults with additional needs may be living in their own home, with support workers or carers visiting on a regular basis; others may be living in some form of supported or community accommodation where there are staff on hand to offer assistance if and when required. This is sometimes referred to as Supported Independent Living, or SIL.
Whatever an individual’s living arrangements, there are a number of areas they may need help with, in order to lead a rich, full and purposeful life. Inside the home, everyday tasks may include meal preparation, taking medication, and personal care and hygiene. Outside the home, individuals may need support with taking public transport, attending appointments, and accessing services and amenities.
Why developing independence matters
With the right level of input and support, many individuals are able to live happy, independent lives, and integrate successfully into their wider community.
However, if we do not get support right for individuals, the ramifications can be far-reaching, impacting not only their quality of life, but also their personal safety.
For example, without appropriate, timely support, some individuals with mild or moderate learning disabilities could be vulnerable to manipulation and coercive behaviour. They may develop relationships with other people that are not in their best interests, and that could put them at risk of exploitation.
Levels of stress and worry can increase when individuals do not have their unique needs met. This can lead to behaviour that needs support and can exacerbate levels of stress and anxiety.
If support provision is inconsistent, some individuals may react negatively to new or unfamiliar staff, and may become withdrawn and disengage if the relationship is not strong. This can detrimentally affect their ability to cope well with independent life, and limit what they are able to do for themselves.
Supporting adults to develop independence around daily living skills
With so much at stake, it’s vital to consider the different ways we can support adults to develop independence around daily living skills.
1: Take a strengths-based approach
As caring professionals, we always have individuals’ best interests at heart. However, focusing on things we believe a person may struggle to do or access can sometimes result in us overlooking their existing competencies and abilities, and excluding them from decisions around support.
Although well-intentioned, this ‘deficit’ mindset can sometimes inadvertently lead to us limiting opportunities and encouraging individuals to avoid situations that might prove challenging.
Instead, taking a strengths-based approach invites us to look holistically at the whole person: their abilities, their strengths and skills, their experiences, their aspirations, and their innate potential. We can then use this as a basis for developing agency, resilience and independence in daily living, so that they have the confidence to try new things.
2: Set realistic, achievable goals
Sometimes, in our quest to help individuals develop independence in daily living, we ‘bite off more than we can chew’ and set our expectations too high at the outset. For example, if we know that an individual needs support to access public transport, we may expose them to a long journey too soon, without building up to the experience gradually.
Knowing individuals well allows us to make decisions around the best strategies for them, so we can break goals down into bite-sized chunks. For example, if train travel is an integral part of someone’s daily life, and something they need to be able to do independently, we might start by sharing a social story about it. Then, we might move onto role-play or watching videos of train journeys. After that, we might visit a train station and learn how to navigate it together, inviting questions and offering reassurance.
Setting small, realistic, and achievable goals and involving individuals at every stage helps to build confidence and can reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm.
3: Prioritise relationships to best understand what is needed
Strong, enduring relationships built on mutual trust and respect are a pivotal part of supporting adults to develop independence around daily living.
This can sometimes be difficult against the backdrop of recruitment and retention challenges and high levels of staff turnover, and there is sometimes a reliance on agency and temporary staff to fill staffing shortfalls. Understandably, this can cause anxiety and distress for individuals and make strong relationships hard to build.
Wherever possible, however, we should try to keep staffing consistent, so that both parties can get to know each other well. Familiar faces can help individuals to feel relaxed and confident, and ensure that the right decisions are always made.
4: Help establish support networks to promote independence
As busy professionals, we may not always be able to spend as much time with individuals as we would like. We need to make sure, then, that there is a wider network of support in place that individuals can ‘lean on’ when required. Support networks can provide extra reassurance and peace of mind, and enable individuals to carry out daily tasks successfully.
An effective support network might include neighbours, friends, colleagues, or family members. Of course, safety is the number one priority and we need to remember that many of the individuals we support may be vulnerable. Anyone within the support network must be trustworthy and understand the needs of the individual.
5: Be clear about our own role
Because we are committed, caring professionals, we can sometimes end up offering too much support and inadvertently disempowering the individuals we work with. We need to find a balance where the level of support provides what is required, without removing autonomy and agency from the individual.
Depending on the level of need, we can model, encourage, and collaborate without taking over and doing things for people that they might, with support, be able to do for themselves.
We can foster a sense of self-awareness so that we always make informed decisions about when to step in and when to step back, in a way that does not increase risk and that empowers others to be independent.
6: Prioritise self-care to avoid burnout
Supporting adults with different needs is hugely rewarding; however, it can also be physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting, so we need to make sure we look after ourselves.
Burnout in the caring professions is not uncommon so we need to prioritise self-care, to ensure we are in the best place ourselves to support others. Only when we feel well, mentally and physically, can we support others to live independently.
Independence as key to inclusion
Developing independence in daily living skills is vital for adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities, or those with a physical disability. Not only does it build self-confidence and autonomy, but it also enables each individual to feel like a valuable member of society.
By supporting individuals to manage daily tasks themselves, we promote wellbeing, increase participation and empower them to live rich, full and happy lives.
Thank you for reading our blog. If you need any support with behaviour please get in touch any time for advice and guidance.