As people get older, avoiding a chronic medical condition becomes increasingly difficult. Some of the most common chronic diseases in the elderly are dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Congestive Heart Failure.
Living with a chronic illness can be isolating and lonely as chronically ill individuals not only face more daily challenges than their healthy peers, but their condition can also interfere with their social life. That’s why it’s important for loved ones to be a source of support and provide a helping hand.
On the occasion of Chronic Disease Awareness Month in July, we would like to share some information on how you can best support a loved one with a chronic disease.
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How to support a loved one living with a chronic disease?
While living with a chronic disease makes a person’s life significantly more difficult, there’s something to be said about their friends and family as well. This is not an easy journey for anyone.
When a person that you love develops a chronic disease, all you want to do is help and be there for them, but it’s not always knowing how to do that. The absolute best thing you can do to be a great source of support is to educate yourself on the specific disease as much as you can to be able to better understand the nature of it and what your loved one is going through. The better you know the given disease, the more you’ll understand your loved one’s struggles.
At Open Arms, we consider it extremely important to help educate families and share as much information and knowledge as possible to make this journey somewhat easier for everyone. You can subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch our videos, follow us on Facebook to make sure you don’t miss any updates, listen to our podcast on Spotify, or explore our blog full of interesting articles.
What are the benefits of in-home care for someone with a chronic disease?
Most people with a chronic disease would like to keep living in the comfort of their own home. However, for most families, that’s not so easily manageable, and this is where an in-home caregiver can be extremely helpful. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything on your own. Let’s take a look at what an in-home caregiver can bring to the table.
Professionalism
In-home caregivers are always properly trained and have a deep understanding of chronic diseases. They get to know your loved one, what upsets them, what comforts them, and many other preferences to better support them at home. They know how to interact in a positive and effective manner to keep your loved one as calm and comfortable as possible.
Daily routine
In-home caregivers can help set daily routines that people living with a chronic disease benefit from. They are trained to facilitate daily activities, including chores and personal care tasks, at the appropriate times and to provide assistance to your loved one as needed.
Monitoring
Professional caregivers understand how diseases progress and can closely monitor their symptoms and provide frequent communication to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. They can also help you better understand the given disease and your loved one’s behavior, as well as keep you updated on their wellbeing.
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Support for you
Caring for a person with a chronic disease is by no means easy, so it’s important not to forget about your own mental health and life and make sure you also get the support you need. Having someone else — especially a person who knows and understands the condition — assisting and checking in on your loved one can be a huge weight lifted off your shoulders.
If you think your loved one would benefit from in-home care, the first step is to understand their specific care needs. Schedule a free meeting with our care team at your loved one’s home.