Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that changes the normal development of the brain and body, causing physical and intellectual challenges for the affected people.

Although the patients have to cope with the condition throughout their lifetime, they can lead a happy and productive life with the help of supporting people. That’s why in this article, we’ve rounded up some effective tips that can help you to foster good mental and physical wellbeing in patients with down syndrome.

Supporting Mental Health – Some Practical Methods

Mental wellbeing is not limited to happiness, it brings feelings of enjoyment, contentment, confidence, and engagement with the world. Here are some realistic ways you can help people in need.

• Focus on the positives and encourage their interests or relative strengths

Coping with Down syndrome is a prolonged and distressing journey. To eliminate the negative feelings, you can give the people for whom you care and support opportunities and means to express their feelings. So based on that, you can change their focus from what they can’t do to what they can. If the patients possess unique hobbies or hidden talents, it’s best to encourage them to develop these distinct aspects. 

A wonderful way to cheer diagnosed people up is by getting them awareness items. You can find many inspirational down syndrome t-shirts from the store like Hyperfavor. Their offerings include a broad collection of unique and custom Down syndrome awareness shirts and merchandise for you to choose from.

Featuring motivational sayings, along with trendy and eye-catching design patterns, this line of motivational shirts will make a better positive change to the way of thinking in patients. So why not get it as a thoughtful gift for any person battling Down syndrome you know?

• Create opportunities for patients to become more independent

Another approach for the sake of good mental health is to create opportunities for the patients to take small steps towards more independence. Here’s a thing to remember: you have to base on their individual abilities and need to outline any plan.

Everyone desires choices of their own and control over their lives. People with Down syndrome are no exception. Thus, it’s a good practice to start the process with simple self-help skills and later move on to daily living skills to support greater independence. Also, a useful reminder for you: Aim high but don’t put the patients in a position in which they’re likely to fail.

• Prepare the patients for expected life events and changes.

Like anyone, people with Down syndrome want to feel that they’re a valuable part of the community. To help them accomplish the goal, you can equip them with new knowledge and skills. At the same time, by getting them engaged in social activities, you are preparing the Down syndrome patients for the environment to which they should’ve belonged in the first place.

• Keep an eye on negative self-talk.

While self-talk could be very helpful to some extent, increasing intensity or changes in the way they talk to themselves or what they are saying may indicate the state of poor mental wellbeing in Down syndrome patients. And you, as a supporter or care-givers, should pay attention to these abnormal reactions.

Supporting Physical Wellbeing

It is obviously true that poor physical health can leave adverse impacts on a person’s mental wellbeing. Conversely, poor mental wellbeing may lead to serious health issues and hinder a patient’s ability to communicate how he/she feels.

• Health checks and screenings

Down syndrome patients need support from families and medical staff to access healthcare. There are some national screening programs available and patients should have the chance to take their health checks.

• Engage in physical activity programs

To boost the physical health of people with Down syndrome, supporters can also organize some enjoyable activities that are meaningful to the participants.

When helping Down syndrome patients develop a suitable exercise program, consider what type of activities they enjoy. For example, you can encourage a child with Down syndrome to take part in dance class if he enjoys group activities and music. The class will definitely get rid of a sedentary lifestyle while elevating his heart rate with the minutes flying by.

Provide that you’re a parent/sibling of Down syndrome, the optimal recommendation is to spend time exercising together.  If you find it hard to spare time with the patient during the week due to school and work obligations, you can consider scheduling an hour for a family bike ride or hiking at the weekend.

• Expert consulting if needed

If Down syndrome patients confront any exercise restrictions or difficulties, you had better consult a physical therapist in advance. You can also seek help from community resources and programs to ensure that the exercises are totally suitable for patients.