In this guide:
Caring for someone with cerebral palsy means more than helping with daily tasks. It’s about supporting independence, dignity and wellbeing. Needs can vary widely, so care must be tailored to the individual.
This article offers practical advice on care for cerebral palsy, offering practical tips, emotional insights and trusted resources to help you along the way, so every small step forward feels achievable.
Key takeaways of caring for someone with cerebral palsy
- Encourage independence using mobility aids, assistive technology and tailored routines.
- Engage in early intervention therapies like physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to build function and confidence.
- Support emotional wellbeing through social participation, structured activities and community inclusion.
- Modify and adapt the home environment with ramps, grab bars and adaptive furniture to support safer and more independent movement.
- Facilitate daily living skills with tools like adaptive clothing and utensils that encourage autonomy.
- Seek support through Mable, which offers independent professionals for tailored cerebral palsy care.
- Explore financial support options including cerebral palsy government assistance through the NDIS.
What are the care needs of a person with cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurological condition that affects movement, muscle tone, coordination and posture. No two people with cerebral palsy are exactly alike, which means their care needs aren’t either.
Some individuals may only need minimal support while others require full-time care to manage everyday tasks. That’s why caring for someone with cerebral palsy means understanding their specific challenges and tailoring care accordingly.
These care needs may include:
- Mobility support to assist with walking, standing or using a wheelchair.
- Daily living assistance including dressing, toileting and mealtime support.
- Communication support such as speech therapy or communication devices.
- Emotional support to help with self-esteem, routine and relationships.
- Ongoing therapy such as physiotherapy and speech pathology.
- Medical management including medication, specialised equipment and regular health monitoring.
The key is creating a support system that grows with the person, from childhood to adulthood, so that each stage of life is met with the right mix of care, tools and encouragement.
How to support individualised care for people with cerebral palsy
No two days look the same when you’re caring for someone with cerebral palsy. But over time, with the right tools and a supportive environment, everyday challenges can turn into meaningful achievements.
Assisting with physical care and mobility
People with cerebral palsy often experience movement difficulties or reduced muscle control.
Support may include:
- Mobility aids like walkers, wheelchairs or canes.
- Home modifications such as ramps, widened doorways and grab bars.
- Adaptive furniture such as height-adjustable chairs and beds.
Positioning tools like cushions, harnesses or specialised supports.
Creating a space that’s easy to navigate can reduce injury risk and help people with cerebral palsy move around more confidently.
Learn more about activities of daily living for cerebral palsy.
Facilitating daily living and personal care
Tasks like dressing, showering, brushing teeth and eating can take more time for people with cerebral palsy but the right tools can empower people to do more for themselves.
Tools may include:
- Adaptive clothing with Velcro fasteners or zippers.
- Modified utensils such as curved or wide-handled cutlery.
- Bathroom safety tools like non-slip mats, shower chairs or handheld showerheads.
- Toileting support such as raised toilet seats and bidet attachments.
You can find qualified independent support workers on Mable to support with personal care.
Learn more about personal care support.
Nursing care and therapeutic support
Therapy plays a key role in cerebral palsy home care. A mix of professionals might be involved, including:
- Physiotherapists to improve balance, movement and strength.
- Occupational therapists to help with day-to-day tasks like dressing or cooking.
- Speech pathologists to support speech or swallowing and assist in introducing appropriate communication devices.
You can find qualified nurses on the Mable platform to help with medications, nutrition or mobility-related therapies.
Learn more about the benefits of physical therapy for cerebral palsy.
Managing communication and speech skills
Not everyone with cerebral palsy experiences speech difficulties, but if they do, introducing supports early is key to better outcomes.
Strategies to assist in developing communication skills can include:
- Speech therapy focusing on clarity, tone or alternative communication.
- Communication boards using symbols or pictures.
- Assistive technology like speech-generating devices or apps.
The goal is to give people with cerebral palsy the tools to express their personality and opinions with confidence, participate in the community and explain their needs.
Supporting health and mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is an important consideration for people living with a disability. It can affect how a person sees themselves, interacts with others and copes with life’s ups and downs.
Ways to support wellbeing include building routine and structure, encouraging independence, promoting physical activity and seeking support groups or counselling.
Encouraging social interaction and community engagement
To feel included is important to wellbeing, as much as feeling supported is.
Social interaction can boost confidence, create connection and remind people they belong.
Tactics for inclusion might be:
- Attending local community groups or disability programs.
- Joining sports teams, arts programs or hobby groups.
- Exploring NDIS-funded social and community participation options.
- Spending time with peers who share lived experiences.
Whether it’s a book club, an accessible exercise class, or coffee with friends, connection with others can be transformative.
Learn more about how you can use NDIS funding to support social activities.
Considerations when supporting someone with cerebral palsy
Understanding how to adjust your care approach is essential when supporting someone with cerebral palsy, because individual needs will shift over time.
Let’s look at what might happen across life stages and what cerebral palsy care could involve over someone’s lifespan.
Caring for a child with cerebral palsy
In the early years of a child’s life, the focus is likely to be on early intervention and developmental support. That doesn’t just mean medical appointments. It’s also about helping kids grow, learn and play.
Early intervention therapy (EIP) includes considering a system of supports to help a child to learn, grow and develop, such as:
- Occupational, speech and physical therapy.
- Counselling: for family, nutrition and behaviour
- Inclusive education using assistive technology, classroom adjustments and school-based support workers.
- Play and learning tools such as sensory-rich toys, switch-adapted games and communication apps.
- Support for parents and carers including disability support for children, respite care, funding options and peer support.
These supports can help children with cerebral palsy to thrive in the early years and develop at their own pace, in their own way.
Caring for an adult with cerebral palsy
As people with cerebral palsy grow older, their needs inevitably change. Some may live independently with minimal support, others may need round-the-clock care.
Support strategies might include:
- Independent living support through transitioning to independent living and home and living support via the NDIS.
- Workplace support including job coaches, modified workspaces and access to transport.
- Long-term planning for healthcare, finances and lifestyle changes.
- Social connection via peer groups, local clubs or disability support for adults.
Respect, autonomy and personal agency should remain front and centre.
Community support and financial assistance for cerebral palsy care
Whether you’re navigating the NDIS, exploring respite care or finding peer connection, there’s a growing network of people and programs ready to help.
Working with support workers
Not every care task will need a clinical team. Sometimes what’s needed is a steady hand, a listening ear or someone to support with day-to-day activities. That’s where independent support workers come in.
Through platforms like Mable, families can:
- Choose their own independent support workers based on experience, personality and availability.
- Book flexible hours including casual, part-time or ongoing support.
- Find help for a range of needs, including personal care, mobility, transport or companionship.
Learn more about the services you can find on Mable.
Need help starting? Here’s how to use Mable to find support workers.
Financial and government assistance
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the main source of cerebral palsy government assistance in Australia.
Depending on your plan and eligibility, the NDIS may support with funding for:
- Daily living support and personal care
- Therapies and equipment, such as wheelchairs, speech devices or home modifications
- Community and social participation
- Short-term accommodation or respite care
- Support coordination and plan management
- Personal care assistance
- Allied health services such as physio, OT or speech therapy
- Mobility aids and assistive technology
- Home modifications and transport services
- Community access and social participation
- Dietitian services or nursing care.
Community and advocacy groups
Sometimes the most valuable help isn’t professional, it’s personal. Families often find strength in connecting with others who understand their journey.
Trusted Australian organisations that actively support people living with cerebral palsy include:
Joining a cerebral palsy support network may help to reduce isolation and make day-to-day life feel a little more connected.
How disability support workers can help with cerebral palsy care
Support workers play an essential role in delivering everyday assistance, encouragement and safety. They provide practical, person-centred help tailored to individual needs.
If you’re wondering how to access help for cerebral palsy, Mable makes it easy to connect with qualified independent support workers who fit your schedule and goals.
Here’s what a support worker can offer.
Personal care and daily living assistance
Support workers can assist with:
- Showering, grooming and dressing, all whilst encouraging independence.
- Mealtime routines including assistance with eating, cooking or adapted utensils.
- Toileting and hygiene using strategies that preserve dignity and comfort.
- Morning and evening routines, from getting out of bed to winding down at night.
This type of cerebral palsy assistance may be delivered by workers with specific training in personal care.
You can filter for this option when browsing profiles on Mable.
Home modifications and mobility support
For individuals using wheelchairs or mobility aids, even basic tasks can become complicated.
Support workers can help:
- Navigate the home safely, offering balance and transfer assistance.
- Accompany individuals to appointments, shops or social events.
- Support in the use of adaptive equipment such as ramps, hoists or walkers (where verified to support with ‘manual handling’).
In-home nursing and therapeutic support
Some independent support workers on Mable hold clinical qualifications, making them eligible to provide:
- Medication management
- PEG feeding or catheter care
- Assistance with mobility therapy programs, in collaboration with a physio or OT
- Wound dressing or skin integrity monitoring.
This type of care should always be discussed with your plan manager or support coordinator to ensure you’re accessing the right level of skill and NDIS funding category (e.g. NDIS therapeutic support services).
Social engagement and community participation
If you’d like to catch a movie, take a class or visit the markets, support workers can accompany you, providing:
- Transport and accessibility support
- Social encouragement and companionship
- Confidence-building and safety for new experiences
- Leisure and fun activities.
If social goals are included in your NDIS plan, you may be eligible for NDIS social and community participation funding.
Education and work support
Whether you’re studying at TAFE or trying your first job, support workers can:
- Assist with school routines and classroom access.
- Help with commuting to and from work or study.
- Support tasks like time management, note-taking or using assistive technology.
- Advocate alongside you for workplace adjustments.
More resources for cerebral palsy care
Looking for cerebral palsy help for parents, or ways to support cerebral palsy awareness in your community? Start with the list below.
- Carer Gateway is a national support service for unpaid carers, offering free counselling, coaching, respite and practical advice.
- Raising Children Network offers evidence-based parenting support and guidance, including information on disability, therapy and funding.
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) is an advocacy organisation for children and youth living with disability and their families.
- Disability Gateway is a government-run hub that connects people with disability to services, supports and information across Australia.
- Reimagine Australia supports children with developmental delays and disability through early intervention resources and services.
- IDEAS (Information on Disability Education and Awareness Services) is an independent information service for people with disability, their families and carers.
There's not just one way to care, but there is your way
Caring for someone with cerebral palsy means being present for the good days, the slow mornings, the small wins and the uncertain times.
Whether you’re brushing someone’s hair, setting up assistive technology or cheering your loved one on through a milestone, you’re doing something meaningful. And you’re not alone.
With community resources, flexible support options and a mindset focused on dignity and potential, cerebral palsy care becomes less about managing limitations and more about unlocking what’s possible.
Explore Mable to connect with experienced support workers who understand how to provide meaningful, tailored care for cerebral palsy.
Frequently asked questions
Who can provide care for people with cerebral palsy?
Care can be provided by:
- Family and informal carers
- Independent support workers
- Allied health professionals and personal care workers.
What is the management plan for cerebral palsy care?
Most care plans include:
- Therapy (physio, speech, OT)
- Personal care routines
- Assistive equipment
- Mental health and NDIS coordination.
Plans should be regularly updated to reflect changing needs.
What support equipment can I find for cerebral palsy?
Common tools include:
- Mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers)
- Communication devices
- Adaptive utensils and bathroom aids
- Pressure-relief mattresses.
An occupational therapist can recommend the best options after assessment.
What are the home modifications to help with cerebral palsy?
Helpful changes may include:
- Ramps and grab bars
- Non-slip flooring
- Smart tech (voice controls, auto lighting)
- Hoists or stairlifts.
How do I find disability support for cerebral palsy care?
There are multiple ways to find the right support:
- Use Mable's online platform to search for independent support workers by location, language or skills.
- Contact the NDIS for plan-managed or self-managed funding guidance.
- Reach out to specialist organisations like Cerebral Palsy Alliance, CPSN or local health networks.
- Join peer support groups to get recommendations and lived experience advice.
The information provided in this article is general information only and based on current information at the date of publication. In addition to considering the information shared in this article, Mable encourages you to conduct your own research and seek independent medical advice relative to your circumstances. If you wish to use your NDIS funding on any of the services outlined above, Mable recommends that you check your NDIS Support Plan or speak with your Plan Manager to ensure that the appropriate services are coverable.