CHRONICALLY ILL
Characteristics:
- A chronic illness persists over an extended period of time and may be fatal.
- It can affect an individual physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually
- In Australia, 73% of males and 76% of females have reported to suffer from one or more long term health problem (3/4 of population)
- Examples include: asthma, arthritis, epilepsy, cancer, back and neck problems and mental disorders such as depression.
- Individuals rely heavily on health professionals
- It can place stress on the family unit
- Activities may be limited due to illness and this can include employment
- It can affect where an individual lives and works
Needs:
Additional work is required to manage a chronic illness and manage the limitations created by the physical and psychological difficulties associated with disease. Therefore those suffering from a chronic disease need:
Access to Services:
- A centralised system that enables them to access to a multitude of resources.
- Assistance in identifying and accessing services
- Transport to services
- Services that come to the individual, e.g. home health care
Education:
Chronically ill people have the same right to education as everybody else. People need education:
- About the disease, treatments and support services
- In order to feel in control
- For self management techniques.
Educating an individual about their illness is important so they can have an understanding of it and to develop strategies to help control it. For example, a person suffering from asthma may learn about certain types of pollen and exercise that may trigger an attack.
** The information obtained needs to:
- Be appropriate to a range of groups as well as the person with the disease
- Consider carers, families, those from non-English speaking backgrounds and indigenous groups
- Be understood by those with very little education
- Provide suggestions for further information for those who need to know more.
Employment:
Many people with chronic disease continue to work, however this may not be possible in the long-term. Some people are so affected by the disease they are unable to work before they have been diagnosed. Those with chronic illness need to have the option of flexible work patterns, e.g. working from home.
Financial Support:
Chronic illness usually involves ongoing medical treatment and medical bills. It can also mean alterations to the home and difficultly in gaining and keeping employment. These all place a significant financial burden on individuals and families. Support may be required in the form of sickness allowance, through Centrelink’s mobility allowance or through Commonwealth government schemes such as Medicare and its Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Health:
- Quality, affordable healthcare is required.
- Care needs to be appropriate to the individual
- Individuals need opportunities to develop self-management skills through exercise, diet and treatment routines.
- Need Specialised services in community centres and nursing homes.
Housing:
- **Requirements may include adaptation, such as handrails or ramps or relocation.
- Adaptations may make it possible for the individual to continue to live in their own home.
Safety and Security:
In order to improve levels of personal safety:
- Medications need to be labelled and taken when required.
- Carers need to be aware of what medications are taken and when.
- The individual and their carer need to know how to respond to medical emergencies
Self Esteem:
An inability to work or carry out household or family responsibilities may have a negative impact on self-esteem. A change in body image, due to physical changes associated with a disease e.g. hair loss from cancer treatments or weight gain may affect an individual’s emotional wellbeing. Individuals need to be able to contribute in some way to help remove feelings of helplessness, dependency and isolation. People treating the chronically ill as capable, valuable and contributing members of society can help improve their self-esteem.
Sense of Identity:
A sense of who we are is determined by what we do and feel. If an individual is able to maintain involvement in family, work or community activities then they are able to maintain a sense of identity.
SOLE PARENTS
Characteristics:
- One parent living together with one or more children.
- Occurs due to divorce, separation, death, illness, desertion or women birthing alone.
- 91% of Australian Sole parents are headed by females.
- May be temporary or permanent.
- Children may have to take on more responsibility
- Sole parents have to multi-task more
- There are less resources available especially time.
- Often receive Benefits such as “Child Support”
Needs:
Access to Services:
- Need to access a range of services in particular those relating to childcare and parenting.
Education:
- Need education on how to problem solve and manage their situation.
- Need education in identifying and accessing a range of resources.
- Need education that can assist them in dealing with an ex-partner or introduction of a new partner,
Employment:
- Need access to flexible work patterns that recognises their parenting obligations and responsibilities.
Financial Support:
- May need financial support from other parent.
- Need assistance with everyday living costs, especially when child is young and they are unable to work.
Health:
- Need access to affordable, quality medical care.
- Need access to services that recognise and address the needs of sole parent families, e.g. if the parent becomes sick who looks after them or the family.
Housing:
- Need access to affordable and appropriate housing that is safe, well-maintained and close to facilities such as banks, schools and medical services.
Security and Safety:
- Need to feel safe and secure.
- Need to live free from the threat of verbal or physical abuse.
Self-esteem:
- Need to be acknowledged and accepted by community.
- Many parents have low-self esteem as they struggle to give their children a basic standard of living and may feel less personal worth.
- Need access to services to help maintain self-esteem, e.g. Parents without Partners
Sense of identity:
- Being a sole parent means being stereotyped by society and as a result they may not want to access services because they feel embarrassed or intimidated however by identifying self as a sole parent, they are entitled to services that may not otherwise be available, e.g. Health Care Card and Child Support Scheme thus improving an individual’s quality of life and sense of identity.