For millions of people, getting through the day requires more than just a simple routine. Instead, they have to carefully think about everything they do thanks to the chronic illness they’re living with. Any chronic illness or disease, whether it’s multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury, presents its own unique challenges. These diseases don’t just affect one person’s health, either—they also impact the emotional well-being of family and friends.
Fortunately, thanks to medical advancements, most chronic illnesses can be managed. Your loved one can continue to remain safe and comfortable in their own home, giving them the independence and privacy they want. However, sometimes to achieve this, your loved one may need a little help. Sometimes this means getting occasional assistance, while other times, it might mean help with Activities of Daily Living.
Regardless of how much help they need, Reliant Home Care Services is here. Our team can step in when you need a break, or we can help your loved one every day with tasks such as bathing and eating. A chronic illness may be something they will have to manage for the rest of their lives, but it doesn’t have to dictate how they live. Here are some of the ways our team can help your loved one manage their chronic illness at home.
Helping with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Activities of Daily Living, often referred to as ADLs, are those basic tasks that independent individuals do to get through the day. They include bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and other simple tasks. Some chronic illnesses can make performing certain ADLs difficult. These limitations can turn ADLs into something that most people don’t even think about to a daily issue that can affect a person’s safety, confidence, and dignity.
ADLs are typically organized into six different categories:
- Bathing: Showering or bathing on one’s own.
- Dressing: Selecting appropriate clothes and getting dressed.
- Using the restroom: Getting on and off the toilet and performing personal hygiene.
- Continence: Controlling bladder and bowel function.
- Transferring: Getting into and out of a bed, chair, or wheelchair.
- Eating: Feeding oneself.
Adults who struggle with even one category of ADL due to a chronic condition can have hygiene issues, a risk of falling, and incredible frustration. Research from The Gerontologist report that 34% of adults with chronic disabilities needed assistance with at least one ADL but did not receive it. Without someone to help, these individuals often felt negative mental consequences as well as physical consequences such as poor hygiene or being unable to eat when hungry. These unmet needs are exactly what home care was designed to combat.
Chronic Conditions and their Unique Challenges
With any health condition, but especially with chronic conditions, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to care. Every person is going to have different symptoms that affect them to different degrees. They will have unique needs and wants. Even those who may have the same type of chronic condition, such as diabetes or Crohn’s disease, will not have the same severity of symptoms or react the same way to things. Here are a few of the different chronic conditions and how they may challenge caregivers:
Multiple Sclerosis
MS is an unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system. A person who has MS may go through periods of flare-ups and remissions. This can result in severe fatigue in addition to physical symptoms such as balance issues and muscle weakness.
The challenge of MS: This serious fatigue and muscle weakness can make even basic, light ADLs exhausting. The risk of fall, especially when standing or bathing, is fairly high due to potential balance issues.
How caregivers help: Caregivers can provide assistance with standing, dressing, and bathing during times of serious fatigue. This allows your loved one to conserve their energy for other tasks and reduces their risk of falling.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease can cause tremors and rigidity in the muscles, making it difficult to move and manipulate objects. Those with Parkinson’s often have trouble keeping their balance and doing anything that involves fine motor skills.
The challenge of Parkinson’s Disease: Rigid muscles make it difficult and even painful to get dressed, stand, and walk. Tremors in the hands can make eating and grooming very challenging or even impossible.
How caregivers help: Caregivers can assist with getting out of bed, safely moving between spaces, and bathing. They can also help prepare meals, eat, and do activities like brushing teeth or shaving. This helps to reduce falls and other injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
TBI can have a number of both cognitive and physical challenges. Physical recovery can stabilize over time, but the challenges that TBIs have that affect memory, executive functions, and impulse control can last for years. This can make independent living a challenge, especially in areas such as organization and financial responsibility.
The challenge of TBIs: TBI survivors are often physically capable of doing many ADLs, though they may have difficulty understanding the order required for some of these tasks. They may also be at risk of forgetting to take medications.
How caregivers help: Caregivers can help those with TBIs organize their day and stick to a schedule. They can provide guidance for routines and make certain individuals with TBIs take their medications as directed.
Reliant Provides Personalized, Long-Term Support
Taking care of a loved one with a chronic illness often means you have to be flexible. Just as there’s no one-size-fits-all care plan, there’s rarely a care plan that won’t need to change over the years. Illnesses progress, symptoms change, and your loved one’s wants may also change. That’s why Reliant will work with you and your loved one’s doctors to create a personalized care plan and make adjustments to that plan as needed.
Caring for someone with a chronic illness requires long-term support, and that is always our goal. Our goal is to always provide the support your loved one needs today while also preparing to meet the needs they will have tomorrow.
Our Focus on Living Independently with Dignity
Our caregivers do more than just come into your loved one’s home and perform tasks. They assist your loved one in living as independently and safely as possible. The goal is to always maximize how much your loved one can do by themselves while ensuring they are always treated with kindness.
For example, if someone can dress themselves but is unable to bend down to put on their shoes, we’ll help them with just their shoes. There’s no need to take away any dignity by insisting they need help with every step.
We’re Here for You, Too
Our caregivers may spend most of their time working with your loved one, but they’re here to provide care for you, too. Most long-term care for those with chronic conditions is handled by a family member, but those family members are only human. If you’ve served as a caregiver, you know it often means sacrificing some of your own independence. You may have even neglected your own needs, which can lead to exhaustion, sickness, and caregiver burnout. It’s stressful being responsible for someone, even if they are somewhat independent.
When you need a break, we’re here for you. Our respite care can take over while you handle your own appointments, spend time with your partner, attend your child’s events, or just spend a little time to yourself.
Your Loved One Can Reclaim their Home and Happiness with a Little Help
Those who are living with chronic conditions will find themselves facing new challenges, as will those who take care of them. That’s why it’s important for you and your loved one to have a strong support structure made up of family, friends, doctors, and caregivers. Your loved one should have everything they need to complete ADLs safely and confidently while living in their own comfortable home.
Reaching out for help isn’t a sign of weakness or failure, it’s a sign of strength. It shows that you and your loved one recognize that to give them the care they deserve, it’s going to take more than a single caregiver.
Reliant is here to be a trusted, proven partner in your loved one’s life. Our team understands chronic illnesses and how to balance the line between needing help and letting your loved one act independently. We begin by creating a customized care plan that incorporates your loved one’s lifestyle, wants, and needs while also providing you and your family the support and peace of mind you deserve.
If your loved one is navigating the daily challenges of a chronic illness or condition, you want to make certain they have the care they need. Reliant is here to help them and give you some much-needed respite. Reach out today to learn more.
