Coping with Chronic Illness: Practical Suggestions for Carers and Patients

Adele Wieder Counselling, Psychotherapy in Barnet November 19, 2013

For families with a member who suffers from a chronic illness, life can be tough and so it is vital to be able to access the right services. Some consultants will try to refer people to different organisations, but at times families are left to cope with their spouse, parent or child being discharged with very little help. This help may vary from borough to borough.

Here are five practical suggestions when coping with chronic illness:

1. Even if you think you can manage, it is always worthwhile requesting a social work assessment. Things may not be as easy once you are caring for your relative 24 hours a day. If a person is in hospital, an assessment should be carried out before discharge, in the same way as the occupational therapist and physiotherapist will check what needs to happen to ensure their patient will manage at home. Once home, if you find after a while that things are not so manageable and you need help or respite, do speak to the intermediate care team or the hospital if it is within 6 weeks of discharge. Otherwise contact your area social work team.

2. Utilise your social worker to ensure you know about all the options available and their cost. As well as a regular care package, the SW (if they have time and perseverance) may know of organisations both inside and outside the borough that can help. They can advise you about what benefits to apply for. On occasions it is important to have someone like a social worker to act as a link. They may save you from making some of the phone calls.

3. Use the internet wisely. Search to see if there is a specific support organization, even if what the person suffers from is rare. Be careful about the chat lines. Although they can be a lifeline, sometimes they make for depressing reading; every case is different and so a chat line may or may not be useful.

4. Is there a support group in your area? They can be for carers or the person with the illness. Sometimes there are groups who meet locally, for example for those with multiple sclerosis, stroke or epilepsy. People with rarer conditions such as transverse myelitis may have to travel a bit further. Perhaps transport can be arranged, through services such as Dial a Ride? Often these groups have very helpful websites and give contact numbers.

5. Are you buckling under the strain, feeling helpless and/or depressed, isolated or arguing more? Some consultants may think about referring you for individual or family therapy, others may not. Do ask. It can be a crucial way to help all the family find ways of coping, ensuring other children or members of the family don’t feel neglected or that too much responsibility is on their shoulders. A key point to remember is that although there may not necessarily be a cure to a condition, help is out there somewhere!