Public Health and Health Promotion
Long Term Conditions
Self Care - Introduction
It is important to care for yourself because
- Living with a long term condition brings challenges,
- You can be in control of your condition, and
- It plays a key part in preventing disease, living well with a long term condition, coping with that condition when you become unwell, and preventing further deterioration in your condition.
Supporting people living with a long term condition to care for themselves is important to health and social care staff. They believe in providing support that is individual to each person. Giving people and their carers the knowledge and permission to self care:
- builds confidence,
- improves health,
- improves independence, and
- feelings of wellbeing and self-worth.
Helping people to cope with their long term condition empowers them to
take more control over their lives.
As people are living longer, sometimes with several long term conditions and
health resources are more under pressure we need to make sure people only
make use of those resources when they are unwell. People should be able to
care for themselves with the help of the plan they have agreed with the
professionals who are helping them to care for themselves. Good self care
will help reduce emergency admissions to hospital and GP appointments so
helping ensure NHS resources can meet the needs of the growing population in
North Somerset.
The following sections will help you understand what self care is and
explore the resources available to help you to self care.
