BOTTOM OF FORM

Many people who are caring for a loved one have their own daily struggles with chronic conditions, facing challenges that aren’t always apparent to their friends and family. You may look fine on the outside, which may make it hard for others around you to recognize your limitations and offer the support you need. Between work, driving mum and dad to appointments, and maybe even cooking and cleaning for them, you’ve probably wondered how much longer you can keep up these duties.

Mick O’Driscoll, owner of Home Instead Senior Care, Cork North said, “When dealing with a sudden illness or accident, there’s a likely end in sight for the related health issues. But chronic conditions, like high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes or arthritis, mean dealing with health concerns for the rest of your life. The good news is, the better informed and better organised you are, the easier it can be to manage your disease and take charge of how you respond to the challenges.”

Home Instead Senior Care has put together 10 steps that can help you effectively cope with these complex illnesses.

10 STEPS TO HELP YOU COPE

• Get information. Direct your questions to your doctor or nurse, and also ask them about trusted sources of medical information on the Web.

• Don’t leave everything to the doctor. Listen to your body and track changes.

• Build a team. Your GP may not have all of the answers. Seek out specialists and other resources.

• Coordinate your care. Specialists don’t always talk to each other, so coordinate care through a GP.

• Invest in yourself. Those who make healthy lifestyle changes are more likely to successfully manage a chronic condition.

• Make it a family affair. Make lifestyle changes a family affair instead of going it alone.

• Manage medications.

• Beware of depression. It’s believed to be more common in people with chronic diseases.

• Reach out. Look for a support group and talk with people who are dealing with the same condition.

• Plan for end-of-life decisions. A chronic condition may have the potential to cause your health to fail suddenly and unexpectedly. Having a good plan of care in place “just in case” may avert a potential crisis.

STAY AWARE OF YOUR SITUATION

Stress is a hidden culprit that can worsen chronic disease symptoms, so it’s a good idea to regularly try to gauge your stress level and understand what you can do to help protect your own health.

GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT

Don’t be afraid to ask other family members, friends or neighbours for help when you’re having a rough stretch. Home Instead Senior Care offer professional care-giving services and respite care-giving services that can step in to give you a break.

To find out more please contact Home Instead Senior Carer in Cork North on 021-4217310 or log on to homeinstead.ie