After a cerebral palsy (CP) diagnosis, some parents are overwhelmed with emotions like fear and anger. Others panic and wonder what to do next, especially if they know nothing about CP. The emotions could be more overwhelming if they suspect that medical negligence caused cerebral palsy.
However, counseling, social support, and learning about CP can help parents and caregivers feel they are not alone. This article highlights tips to help parents with a kid diagnosed with CP navigate uncertainties or challenges associated with this condition.
Learn About Cerebral Palsy
Many people fear the things they do not understand. This explains why parents and caregivers should learn about CP in detail. They should investigate if it were caused by medical malpractice and file for compensation to get the funds to support the baby born with cerebral palsy.
Caregivers should also learn how the baby will behave now and in the future to determine the support they should offer. Understanding how the baby will behave ensures caregivers support each other and help ensure the kid is safe and comfortable.
Find a Trustworthy Specialist
A kid with cerebral palsy will need special care and treatment. This means that the parents should not move from one specialist to another but should choose one reliable doctor to get help when the need arises. The specialists will treat the child from a young age and adjust treatment accordingly as new knowledge and therapies emerge. The child and parents will also feel safe when working with the same trusted specialist.
Choose Appropriate Therapy Options
A child with CP can have developmental challenges due to muscle weakness and mental challenges. Fortunately, parents have several treatments, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical treatment, and physical therapy, to support the baby. They can also access counseling services and support groups when dealing with complex emotions due to CP.
Appreciate the Child’s Abilities
Developmental challenges and mobility limitations affect many children with CP. So, parents should appreciate what the kid can do and provide support until the child can do much more. They should encourage the kid to push their limits to realize their dreams.
Parents should set realistic goals for their children and motivate them to explore their abilities and live the best life. They should prepare the child for school and start making appropriate arrangements.
Share Experiences With Others
Some parents hide children with cerebral palsy. Others live isolated lives with their children, wishing nobody else will ever know what they go through. However, open communication and advocacy about the child’s experiences can change the situation. Sharing stories and personal experiences with other caregivers, parents, families, and medical professionals makes the caregiver avoid isolation.
The child also feels appreciated and minimizes negative emotions such as frustration, anger, and sadness. Children with CP should always have a safe environment in which they can communicate their needs and seek help.
Seek Help With Caregiving Tasks
A child with CP might have trouble speaking, eating, swallowing, or taking medication. They might also experience seizures, which means they need someone to monitor them at all times. Parents need visiting nurses, home health aides, respite caregivers, and friends or family members to help with caregiving tasks.
Get Medicaid
Some parents have private insurance, but Medicaid can help with some treatment costs. The federal health insurance protects people with disabilities, which reduces the out-of-pocket costs. This ensures the child with cerebral palsy receives care and support with services that the private insurers do not cover.
Caring for a baby with cerebral palsy is tough and demanding. However, parents can apply these tips to improve their experience and provide the best care to the affected child. They should also work with a lawyer to file an insurance claim if the condition was caused by negligence or medical malpractice during delivery.
