Some Basic Hints For A More Family Oriented Chronic Care Situation

By Angel Dudley


Typically a chronic illness will be one that can normally last 3 months and longer. It is surprising that roughly 7 out of 10 deaths from the U. S. Is from a chronic related disease. With a rise in what health care now costs, there is a growing tendency for families to pursue a more home oriented chronic care strategy for their loved ones at their home.

There are no stead-fast rules that apply for these family care situations. However, there are some ideas that someone could try following to help make things better long term situations. One reason more people are pursuing these ideas is they wish to remain near their family and understand that even a family member who has a medical issue still may have something to offer their family.

One of the most important things that can be done is to keep communication as open as possible. It is vital that they realize you are there to help them. Let them know that they can talk to you about any concerns they have. Often these illnesses can cause memory loss or extreme personality changes, be patient and work through this.

If they see a doctor often take an active part in their appointments. Nobody likes seeing a doctor alone, including family members that have a terminal illness. By going to them, you not only give them a ride there and back but could fill prescriptions or remember important things to bring along. You may also have relevant information which the patient could have forgotten. When the visit is over you could help schedule their follow up appointment so it will not be missed.

Most of the people who have long term illness will generally require ongoing treatment with various pills and medicines. It is important to become as knowledgeable as possible about these to keep your loved ones safe. Take some time to learn what everything does and what the possible food or drug interactions may be.

As boring as it could sound try taking some college classes. Many colleges have specifically targeted classes to assist people who take care of any family members in their home. You should learn first aid or CPR or even how to bathe and dress people. These classes are generally quite short and yes, worth every dime they cost.

Try asking them to write inside a journal about how they feel and things that are happening. This may appear silly but often really helps to fine-tune any medical treatment or assist with pin-pointing treatment areas their doctor may miss. It is not required to be elaborate, simply a basic journal for them to take a few moments and write in every day.

You are suppose to help with solving any issues they could possibly have, not make new issues for them. Often it takes time to regain a their trust but this is critical if you honestly plan to assist them with their chronic care be it short or long term. It could be tough, just do not give up.




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