Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder of movement and muscle tone that results from an early brain injury, usually occurring before or at the time of birth. Even though it is a developmental disorder, people with CP survive for many years, and their requirements change as they grow. It is through lifelong care management that they can get medical, emotional, and social care all the time.
In the early years of life, care revolves around the provision of services that lead to an improvement in movement, speech, and self-help skills through pharmacology, therapy, and, in some cases, surgery. The intervention is guided by the attending paediatric specialists, such as Neurologists and Physiotherapists. Nevertheless, as the patient’s age, they are confronted with new problems, such as the control of pain, tiredness, and muscle rigidity can become worse with age. It is also possible that they become unable to get employment that matches their qualifications and that they get proper healthcare and housing at the adult phase.
One of the most difficult aspects of the situation is the change from paediatric to adult healthcare. Paediatric care is normally hospital-based and is quite structured, with a single team looking after every aspect of treatment. On the other hand, adult care normally has several specialists and thus may be working separately, and this can result in incomplete support. To be able to make this change less difficult, it is advisable that planning hits the teenage years so that the understanding of the adult healthcare system and treatment is maintained by the patients and caregivers.
Adult care has to focus on both the physical and the emotional health of the individual. Physiotherapy is still very important in the prevention of stiffness, while occupational therapy is used to help with everyday tasks and adjustments in the living area. Mental health support is as necessary as the others since people with CP are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. The social workers and counsellors can support them in gaining self-sufficiency, becoming familiar with community services, and looking into education or job possibilities.
Employment and living independently are the main objectives to which most adults with CP aspire. Some are able to work productively most of the time if they are allowed certain workplace adjustments, such as flexible work hours, the use of assistive devices, and the availability of accessible workspaces. Families, however, are the ones that have the major responsibility. The parents being aged, it is time now to think about the long-term plan on the issue of caregiving or supported living.
The development of technology electric wheelchairs to smart home systems has made independent living much easier. Notwithstanding that, it is still the case that every person does not have equal access to technology, especially in low-income areas. Those in politics and the healthcare sector have to collaborate in order for long-term care to be more inclusive and be less costly.
Cerebral palsy is a life-long trip. With appropriate care management, individuals who have CP can have successful transitions to adulthood, continue to enjoy their health, and live their lives to the full, be self-supporting and have their rights and dignity upheld.
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