We are excited to continue our SDA Blog series with our next topic: "Now That You Have SDA Funding,...
My Ability Pathway’s goal to establish Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) properties in the Barossa Valley has been years in the making – a goal that was achieved in May this year. The process of supporting the builds, seeking new clients and ultimately moving everyone into their new homes was much like a swan on a river – calm and smooth on the surface, wild and furious kicking underneath.
Calm and smooth was exactly the approach needed to support our clients with the move. The upheaval anyone may experience when moving home cannot be underestimated. MAP’s team did the wild kicking so our clients could have as stable a move as possible.
In reality, wild kicking at MAP looked like many months of structured meetings, meticulous planning and continuous adjustments as things beyond our control cropped up, such as delays with the build completion. Flexibility and adaptability were vital parts of the process for everyone involved. With information being updated daily as we approached the move dates, our entire Disability Services team handled the uncertainty masterfully.
All the planning in the world cannot account for the human element however, and while some of our clients have adapted well to this considerable change, others have faced some struggles.
Disability and moving house
The stresses of moving can be amplified for people living with disabilities. The loss of familiarity and changes to supports can lead to intense feelings of being unsafe in the new environment, and the impacts of some disabilities make it difficult for support people to explain the changes and offer reassurance. For some people with disabilities, the disruption caused by a significant change like moving home can contribute to an increase in symptoms – this is especially true for people living with dementia.
Of the six clients involved in our SDA move, two are living with dementia. Their responses to moving have been vastly different. One adjusted to the changes with unexpected ease, while the other has shown signs of distress, expressed as changes in behaviour. Rallying the support network to help with navigating changes is essential.
Supporting change
All of us can speak to the rise of emotions that come from being faced with change, however big or small. These emotions can be difficult, such as fear and resistance, or they can be exciting as we dive towards something we want. Sometimes we experience these at the same time.
Despite MAP’s the extensive preparation, in collaboration with our clients, the change of moving has been a space requiring adaptive and ongoing navigation. Expectations and realistic limits needed managing for everyone involved, while also ensuring safety and comfort for our clients.
Throughout the moving process, MAP has supported our clients to exercise their choice and control. Having a sense of ownership over the changes we face can help with maintaining a sense of calm and confidence, both vital for navigating transitions.
It’s also important to keep talking about the difficulties of a change, for people facing changes to have opportunities to express themselves in a safe space while having their thoughts and concerns validated. It’s natural for many of us to enter “problem-solving” mode when faced with change and challenges, however simply feeling heard can often be far more supportive for people than attempting to fix things – especially with a permanent change like moving.
Building a home
Moving doesn’t completely end once the keys have been handed over and the removalists are gone. Transforming a house into a home is a process, while adapting to, and accepting change often takes a bit of time.
Coming back to our goals and purpose has been important during the weeks since the move happened, not just for the team at MAP but also for our clients. Re-establishing a sense of security after a big change is vital to wellbeing. Ensuring our clients, both new and existing, have been able to maintain their choice and control has been a priority within MAP’s team.
Our frontline team members have been remarkable throughout the move, staying flexible, understanding and supportive through all the hurdles. Offering care to our clients goes beyond supporting with personal care and daily activities – it’s also about nurturing their environment, creating a home filled with hope and happiness. Safety, warmth and comfort are our next focus to ensure the SDA builds are more than just a needs-based building – they’re a true home.
