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What Are the Different Types of Tube Feeding Formulas?

Powdered milk with spoon for baby

What Are the Different Types of Tube Feeding Formulas?

Australian allied health services often include tube feeding, which is important to Australians with disabilities and long-term medical conditions. Also known as enteral feeding, this process helps to maintain the right level of nutrients when people can’t chew and swallow food on their own.

The ideal tube feeding formula offers an accurate balance of nutrients, proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals, and calories. Let’s take a closer look at the different tube feeding formulas used by healthcare professionals and personal support carers.

Standard Whole Protein Formulas

Standard tube feeding formulas are made with normal digestion in mind. For kids and adults with normal digestion, a standard formula has all the necessary nutrients to maintain proper nutrition, and it may be used in the event of an accident, surgery, or a long-term disability that doesn’t affect digestion. Standard formulas may have fibre and other added ingredients for bowel management and digestive health.

Peptide Formulas

Peptide or semi-elemental tube feeding formulas are better for people with digestive problems, as they are easier to digest and absorb. Conditions such as malabsorption, cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory bowel disease can be better managed with peptide feeding tube formulas, which contain all the required nutrients but with broken-down proteins that are smaller for easier digestion. Keep in mind bolus feeding with a catheter syringe works with peptide formulas, too.

Specialised Formulas

There are also specialised enteral feeding formulas used for children and adults with certain nutritional needs. If patients need a solution beyond standard tube or bolus feeding for adequate nutrients and digestion support, then doctors or dieticians will select a specialised formula that meets these needs. This type of tube feeding formula is most common in cases of respiratory disease, kidney failure, liver disorder, or diabetes.

Explore Your Options for Enteral Feeding

As long as all guidelines are followed, tube feeding and bolus feeding can make a big difference to the overall health and nutrition levels of children and adults with disabilities and medical conditions. A allied health disability support specialist will cover your enteral feeding options to ensure the best results for your loved one.

If you’d like to learn more about Fair Go Access and how our licenced in-home carers can help with tube feeding, please enquire today.

An Overview of Feeding Tubes for Children With Cerebral Palsy

lose-up portrait of beautiful disabled girl in the arms of his mother having fun in fountain of public park at sunny summer day.

An Overview of Feeding Tubes for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Allied health disability services make a big difference to Australians affected by disabilities, including the 34,000 people with cerebral palsy. This is the most common childhood motor disability, as a child is born with cerebral palsy in Australia every 20 hours. Caused by abnormal brain development, typically a brain injury in utero, children with cerebral palsy may have involuntary reflexes and rigid arms and legs.

In addition to long-term treatments such as physical therapy and medication, tube feeding is another important aspect of help for people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy. In fact, 1 in 5 people with cerebral palsy are tube-fed. If a child in your family is affected by cerebral palsy and requires tube-feeding formulas, here are a few key things you should know.

Why is Tube Feeding Necessary for Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy caregivers need to be aware of tube feeding formulas that help with poor nutrition, which is caused by feeding and swallowing challenges associated with CP. Tube feeding is a proven solution to these healthcare concerns that gives kids with cerebral palsy greater nutrition for their overall strength and development as they get older.

How Does Tube Feeding Work?

Many children with cerebral palsy don’t get the nutrients they need on their own or may not be able to swallow and digest food normally. Tube feeding formulas are used with gastrostomy tubes in the abdomen, which deliver food directly to the stomach. Tube feeding formulas are catered to each child’s nutritional needs to ensure they are fed the proper amount without making them sick.

Is Tube Feeding Expensive?

Tube feeding and related cerebral palsy treatment and management costs certainly add up. Comprehensive CP care costs an estimated $43,431 per Australian every year, with 37% of those costs let up to the family. That’s why it’s important to understand your options for plan management services to ensure you get the right level of financial support when paying for tube feeding and other cerebral palsy medical expenses. 

Feeding Tube Help for People with Disabilities

Dedicated disability care specialists near you understand how gastrostomy tubes work and how this help for people with disabilities plays a big role in cerebral palsy treatment and management. Learn more about Allied Health services here. 

For more information about feeding tubes for children with cerebral palsy, contact Fair Go Access disability support services in Geelong.

Checklist for Supporting People with Special Needs

Portrait of disabled student in wheelchair choosing books while studying in college library

Checklist for Supporting People with Special Needs

Approximately 4.4 million Australians have a disability. That’s around 1 in 6 people. The prevalence of disabilities in Australia means help for people with disabilities is in high demand. If someone you love has special needs and you’re looking into professional assistance, keep this disability support checklist in mind.

Medical Diagnosis

First, it’s important to gather as much information about an individual’s special needs as possible. The appropriate diagnosis from a medical professional offers a good starting point as to what the future holds and how much support is needed. The more you know about a disability and/or a chronic medical condition, the better you can approach the situation and be prepared for the inevitable challenges.

Healthcare Team

As part of our plan management services, people with special needs should have a trusted healthcare provider who helps to achieve the best health outcomes for a long and comfortable life. This may include medication, physical therapy, and other treatments, along with daily personal care and life management support.

In-Home Care

Families of special needs children and adults can access in-home health and personal care, complete with individualised care plans and top-of-the-line disability equipment. The right mobility products can help people with disabilities feel more comfortable and confident at home and on the go.

Disability Equipment

Modern mobility products range from wheelchairs to lifts, scooters to walking aids, and so much more. It’s easier to support people with special needs using durable disability equipment that enables greater freedom of movement and self-confidence, while also maintaining safety.

Educational and Career Support

Finally, educational and career support are important ways to provide help for people with disabilities. Whether it’s giving those with a learning disability more time to take a test and turn in assignments or accommodating disability equipment in the classroom or on the job, a few modifications can go a long way. With an experienced disability support specialist by your side, obtaining the right mobility products and personalised educational and career guidance becomes significantly easier.

Get Professional Help for People with Disabilities

Now that you have this checklist for supporting people with special needs, you can move forward with comprehensive support for your loved ones. Enquire today about dedicated disability support services from Fair Go Access in Geelong.

Adults with Learning Disabilities: Educational and Social Experiences During College

A young man with infantile cerebral palsy caused by a complicated birth sitting in a multifunctional wheelchair using a computer with a wireless headset reaching out to touch the touch screen

Adults with Learning Disabilities: Educational and Social Experiences During College

Did you know that 1 in 10 Australians has a learning disability? 80% of those affected by a learning disability are diagnosed with dyslexia, which affects reading and writing abilities. Dysgraphia (spelling/handwriting), dyscalculia (math), and dysphasia (speech) are other common learning disabilities.

Considering the prevalence of learning disabilities, it’s important that students of all ages have the right level of support, including those going to college. Here are a few key ways to help people with disabilities throughout the many educational and social experiences of college.

Educational Support

Adults with learning disabilities need additional support in and out of the classroom during college. An individual learning plan ensures students have proper support with test taking, studying, and extracurricular activities. In addition to allied health disability services that identify the root cause of learning challenges, a detailed learning plan meets students where they are, to ensure they can get the most out of their college experience.

Social Guidance

Social help for people with disabilities is also important during college. Students with special needs sometimes struggle to fit in, make connections, or maintain healthy boundaries, which is why a little extra guidance goes a long way. Personal support and disability services cater to adults with learning disabilities who may otherwise feel left behind in their college communities. Appropriate guidance and encouragement help adults with a learning disability engage with their peers and promote a better time at college overall.

Future Preparation

Getting a job with a disability has long been a challenge, but advocates and disability service providers are constantly working to make it easier. After all, adults with a learning disability deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. If they feel comfortable in their college environment, then they are more likely to learn and ultimately succeed. Disability support specialists are determined to make getting a job with a disability a reality for more people in need at college.

College Help for People with Disabilities

Want to learn more about disability services that can make a difference to people with disabilities during childhood, college, and beyond? Please get in touch with Fair Go Access for comprehensive disability support services in Geelong.

Supporting Families of Young Children with Disabilities

Little boy in wheelchair with ball on playground

Supporting Families of Young Children with Disabilities

Support for families of young children living with disabilities has improved over the years, along with healthcare and the overall recognition and awareness of disability.

For example, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare confirms that intellectual and sensory or speech disabilities are the most common, with 9.4% of boys ages 0-14 having a disability compared to 5.4% of girls the same age. Out of the 7.4% of Australian children with some level of disability, 4% had a profound disability. This information is part of further in-depth research on disabilities and how they affect Australian families, which influences the demand for disability service providers nationwide.

Let’s take a closer look at disability services in Australia and how they support families of young children with special needs.

Disability Healthcare

There are a few different key areas of disability services, and one of the most important is disability healthcare. Families of young children with special needs are encouraged to explore the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which provides funding for necessary healthcare and personal care. Healthcare needs vary for each child, so it’s important to have flexibility and a health provider you can trust.

Disability Home Services

Healthcare and disability home services go hand-in-hand. A trusted care provider can make a big difference to families in need by bringing healthcare and personal support directly to families that need it most. State-of-the-art disability equipment can be brought into your home with licensed care providers who help with all sorts of daily health and lifestyle needs, whether it is medication and personal hygiene or supervision and engaging activities.

Personalised Care 

In addition to healthcare and disability equipment, leaders in disability home services understand that supporting families of kids with disabilities is not one-size-fits-all. Every child and their loved ones may have different needs, and that’s okay! An individualised care plan for disability home services ensures that children’s needs are met in every aspect of their lives, from physical health to emotional wellbeing. It’s all about giving children and their families adequate support so they aren’t navigating special needs all on their own.

Contact Disability Service Providers in Geelong

Interested in family support and disability services for children with special needs? Get in touch with the dedicated disability service providers at Fair Go Access to discuss disability home services in Geelong today.

Understanding and Parenting Kids with Needs in Geelong

Perfect family holding hands, adopted child being supported by loving parents

Understanding and Parenting Kids with Needs in Geelong

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, about 1 in 8 school-aged children in Australia has a disability, and nearly 1 in 18 has a profound disability. Australian families need to have ample support when going through the ups and downs of living with a disability. If you are the parent of a child with special needs, here are a few key things to keep in mind for your parenting journey moving forward.

What to Know About Your Child’s Disability

While parenting or caring for kids with needs is undoubtedly rewarding, it can also be difficult, which is why it’s important to have the right support and knowledge to overcome challenges. Consider how daily life feels to your child. Thinking about life in their shoes can help you understand how they process their daily life, and what kind of support they need. Parenting a child special needs isn’t always easy, but the more you know about a physical or mental disability, the more you can prepare for what lies ahead and the more you can practice understanding.

How to Access Support Services 

It helps to find a doctor you can trust to discuss your child’s needs. Look online and visit in person places and communities where you can gather fact-checked information about your child’s disability. Innovative disability equipment and professional help for people with disabilities are also important, and you needn’t go through these challenges on your own. Support services are not only necessary for your child, but also for you as a parent. Therapy, counselling, and guidance for parents can be valuable and often eye opening.

Where to Find Help for People with Disabilities

Although you should research available resources near you, it’s also beneficial to look into personalised care for families like yours. Key aspects of comprehensive disability care services include healthcare, meal preparation, hygiene, cleaning, supervision, and disability equipment. An individualised care plan takes into account your child’s strengths and challenges to ensure they have the right level of support and independence while keeping their health and safety as top priorities. 

Explore Valuable Resources for Parenting Kids with Special Needs

Want to learn more about the help we can provide for children living with disabilities and how to access disability care services and disability equipment near you? Contact Fair Go Access for high-quality disability care services in Geelong and surrounding suburbs.

  • 03 5298 2746
  • info@fairgoaccess.com
  • 2/84 Shannon Ave, Geelong West, VIC 3218, Australia

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