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If you’re like most other people, you have at least one loved one with a chronic health condition. Living with such a condition presents various challenges, depending on the specific condition. But suffice it to say it can make everyday life more difficult and impact a person’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
Helping your loved one, whether a close friend or family member, can be challenging on its own. Telling them to let you know if there’s anything you can do probably won’t provide the platform for helping them in meaningful ways. That’s why OregonHealthCare.us has listed these specific strategies for helping a loved one living with a chronic condition:
Bring them groceries.
Picking a casserole and other comfort foods is a thoughtful way to reach out to a friend in need. But many people with chronic conditions must abide by restrictive diets, meaning that fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods would be better options. Offer to bring your loved ones some groceries, or learn about what kind of meals they can have so that you can prepare them and freeze them for later.
Help around the house.
Take time to evaluate your loved one's home to see if there are any modifications or improvements that you can handle (or have handled). Is the lawn or landscaping a little worse for wear? Could the toilets and bathtubs use a scrub? Do the rugs or carpet have stains that need removing?
If you're loved one works from home, you could help them create a stress-free and positive atmosphere. For example, maybe you could research ergonomic furniture and equipment that will help mitigate your loved one's symptoms or install new lighting that reduces fatigue.
Another option is to help your loved one establish a solid planning system. Using a digital app or a paper planner, sit down and ask your loved one to list their priorities and workload. Then, helped him determine a schedule that maximizes productivity and brings balance to their personal life.
Create a fitness routine together.
Regular exercise can do wonders for the overall health and well-being of someone with a chronic condition. Working out releases endorphins, mood-boosting chemicals that serve as the body's natural pain relievers.
Carve out time four or five days a week to work out with your loved one, whether it's walking briskly or running through the neighborhood, moving to YouTube videos, or engaging in HIIT workouts in the backyard. To get the most from your exercise, pay attention to your nutrition and eat healthy together!
Watch the kids.
If your loved one has children, consider offering to watch them for a bit to allow the parent to rest. Maybe you could take the kids to a special event for a few hours while your loved one reads or naps. Or perhaps you could watch them at home while their parent goes out for a fun activity.
Ask the spouse what you can do.
One effective strategy to get valuable information about your loved one is to ask their spouse for specific ways you can help the family. For example, maybe your loved one would appreciate a gift card to a food delivery service so they can take a night off from cooking. Or maybe you could invest in a portable massager or other product that relieves their pain throughout the day.
People with chronic health conditions face unique challenges each day, and sometimes they may not want to "burden" their support system by asking for help. Consider the ideas above for helping your loved one maintain their quality of life as they tackle the obstacles ahead. And keep learning about their condition so that you can constantly lend a meaningful, helping hand when they need it most!
Are you trying to transition from Cover Oregon to the Federal Facilitated Marketplace? Visit OregonHealthCare.us for helpful resources!
Helping your loved one, whether a close friend or family member, can be challenging on its own. Telling them to let you know if there’s anything you can do probably won’t provide the platform for helping them in meaningful ways. That’s why OregonHealthCare.us has listed these specific strategies for helping a loved one living with a chronic condition:
Bring them groceries.
Picking a casserole and other comfort foods is a thoughtful way to reach out to a friend in need. But many people with chronic conditions must abide by restrictive diets, meaning that fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods would be better options. Offer to bring your loved ones some groceries, or learn about what kind of meals they can have so that you can prepare them and freeze them for later.
Help around the house.
Take time to evaluate your loved one's home to see if there are any modifications or improvements that you can handle (or have handled). Is the lawn or landscaping a little worse for wear? Could the toilets and bathtubs use a scrub? Do the rugs or carpet have stains that need removing?
If you're loved one works from home, you could help them create a stress-free and positive atmosphere. For example, maybe you could research ergonomic furniture and equipment that will help mitigate your loved one's symptoms or install new lighting that reduces fatigue.
Another option is to help your loved one establish a solid planning system. Using a digital app or a paper planner, sit down and ask your loved one to list their priorities and workload. Then, helped him determine a schedule that maximizes productivity and brings balance to their personal life.
Create a fitness routine together.
Regular exercise can do wonders for the overall health and well-being of someone with a chronic condition. Working out releases endorphins, mood-boosting chemicals that serve as the body's natural pain relievers.
Carve out time four or five days a week to work out with your loved one, whether it's walking briskly or running through the neighborhood, moving to YouTube videos, or engaging in HIIT workouts in the backyard. To get the most from your exercise, pay attention to your nutrition and eat healthy together!
Watch the kids.
If your loved one has children, consider offering to watch them for a bit to allow the parent to rest. Maybe you could take the kids to a special event for a few hours while your loved one reads or naps. Or perhaps you could watch them at home while their parent goes out for a fun activity.
Ask the spouse what you can do.
One effective strategy to get valuable information about your loved one is to ask their spouse for specific ways you can help the family. For example, maybe your loved one would appreciate a gift card to a food delivery service so they can take a night off from cooking. Or maybe you could invest in a portable massager or other product that relieves their pain throughout the day.
People with chronic health conditions face unique challenges each day, and sometimes they may not want to "burden" their support system by asking for help. Consider the ideas above for helping your loved one maintain their quality of life as they tackle the obstacles ahead. And keep learning about their condition so that you can constantly lend a meaningful, helping hand when they need it most!
Are you trying to transition from Cover Oregon to the Federal Facilitated Marketplace? Visit OregonHealthCare.us for helpful resources!
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