Do you have a family member or a loved one who is living with a chronic disease? If so, you’re probably wondering what you can do to help take care of them on a day-to-day basis.
Chronic illness, whether life-threatening or not, can be frustrating for the person with the illness, those caring for them, and others around them, so in this article, we’ll look at some tips and things you can do to make life easier for everyone concerned.
What Is a Chronic Disease Or Illness?
A chronic disease or illness is a fairly broad term. It’s used to describe any illness that lasts for 1 year or more and are illnesses that require regular medical attention, care and limit daily activities. Some examples of chronic conditions include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and more.
Living with a chronic disease can be tough for the individual and those around them. There can be many challenges to face along the journey and the type of care required will differ depending on the condition, and whether it’s a terminal disease or not.
What You Can Do To Help Care For a Loved One
Unless you’re a qualified medical professional or caregiver, you’re going to face some limitations when it comes to caring for a loved one with a chronic disease. It’s important to recognize those limitations and seek professional help and advice when needed.
Even if you’re not a qualified professional, there are things you can do to help make life more comfortable for the person living with the chronic condition.
One of the key things you can do as a carer is to listen to the individual and offer them emotional support. Sometimes, they just want to know that it’s okay not to be okay and that they’re not being a burden. This kind of emotional support and empathetic communication will go a long way towards making the person with the disease or illness feel more comfortable and at ease. If it’s a condition that they have a chance of recovering from, then the more positive the environment, the greater chance they have of getting better.
Other things you can do are take care of daily tasks and chores, such as cooking meals, cleaning, doing the shopping, running errands, and driving the individual to doctor appointments. There are many daily tasks you can handle as a non-qualified carer that will make life easier.
Seek Professional Care Services To Relieve the Burden
Caring for a loved one with a chronic disease can take its toll. Therefore, it might be wise to call in some professional assistance from a caregiver service, or even consider hiring a registered nurse.
Having a professional help out is beneficial on a number of levels. For one, it takes the pressure off other carers and those living in the same household. Suddenly, someone else is there to lend a hand and give everyone else a break when they need it. Secondly, if certain medical attention is required on a regular basis, you’ll need someone qualified to administer this care in a proper manner. What’s required will obviously depend on the chronic disease or illness being dealt with, but most chronic individuals will require some form of regular medical care; such as administering medication and so on.
Another important thing to note is that when you enlist the help of professional home care services, they will evaluate the person with the disease and put together a care plan tailored specifically for the individual, as there is no blanket care approach that will work for every person. Each plan is formulated on a case-by-case basis. This ensures your loved one receives the very best care possible.
Finding Professional Care Services Near You
Fortunately, there are numerous quality home care services available in Australia. To locate one near you, go online and do a search for potential companies. As an example, if you’re in the Sydney area, search for terms like “home care services Sydney”. For other areas, just replace Sydney with your city or town.
Living with a chronic disease is manageable. Never be afraid to seek professional assistance.
