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Individuals suffering from chronic diseases often experience a change in behavior and it impacts the overall lives of the patients and their immediate families. Experts say that the best way to manage the condition of elderly patients suffering from chronic diseases is by making them self sufficient in managing their illnesses and it will prove effective in the long run. They may also try therapy (armidaho.com/acoustic-wave-therapy/) to help them with the pain. This indirectly helps them to live their lives with dignity by enabling them to manage their day to day activities and by bringing back their lost confidence. The aim of chronic disease self-management program is to making the elderly people to implement the support practices in developing the necessary skills and confidence they need to lead their lives in a dignified manner without waiting for help from others.

What Does Research Say?

From various researches, it has become clear that the self-management program has considerably improved the patient’s health-related behavior and has registered reports with positive clinical outcomes. Evidence derived from clinical trials also supports the effectiveness of patient care self-management program.

Taking help of self-management care policies will leave a positive impact on the overall health of an individual with chronic conditions and will add to the satisfaction of the clinician and the patients. This support that is designed towards the self-management of illnesses forms a principal part of the chronic diseases care program that aims to achieve complete patient satisfaction.

Self-management is a Great Shift from the Traditional Patient Care Program

It includes various processes such as patient’s problem-solving skills; promotes self believe, and how to implement these steps in real life situations to help the patients.

patient care program

Now the focus is shifted towards an environment where family physicians can teach self-management by holding patient-physician interaction sessions to spot problems from the perspective of patients. It is done to remove any barrier come in the way of patient care by way of offering individual monitoring and also through available community self-management lessons.

The emphasis of this program is on the implementation of those patient care practices that can purposefully help the chronically ill patients to manage their lives. Research has claimed that this self-management program has brought improvements in patient care management and changes the lives of many patients.

Chronic Diseases in the US

Chronic illnesses are rising in the United States and across globally due to the coming of advanced health care facilities and also because of the prevalence of various lifestyle habits like unhealthy diet, smoking, and an absence of physical activity increases air pollution etc. Research has identified that as many as 45 percent of the American population are suffering from at least one chronic disease. The cost for chronic disease accounts for 75 percent of the total health care and this is alarming.

Comorbidity Factor Makes Elderly Care Difficult

caring-for-difficult-elderly-parent
A shot of a senior man sitting on the sofa with his daughter, looking at a photograph. He is cuddling his daughter, looking sad and holding the photo.

One more factor that adds to the worry is the comorbidity factor. It refers to a situation when a patient is suffering from a primary chronic illness along with several other multiple disorders. This makes the patient care a complicated process.

As much as 25 percent of elderly individuals who are enjoying Medicare a national health insurance program are diagnosed with more than 4 chronic conditions. Most of the elderly people with several serious health issues such as diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, Alzheimer, depression are not getting proper care and treatment. If you’re living with an elderly relative with health conditions, it is advisable to make adjustments in your home to help them move around. Wheelchair ramps, lift chairs and stair lifts are just some of the equipment to consider.

Final Opinion

In the process of assisting elderly patients in decision making and ensuring healthy behaviors in them requires close coordination between the clinician team, the patients and their families. The patient care self management for program has helped many such elderly people to better manage their conditions. Encouraging them to take part in such programs will improve their lives and they will become self-sufficient to perform their routine tasks.