LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Chronic Illness: Chronic Illness Care
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The Chronic Illness Workbook brings clarity and order to what feels like an unmanageable and isolating experience. It shows both those who are ill and those who care for them how to live a full and meaningful life despite undeniable difficulties. Using her extensive experience with chronic illness patients, Patricia Fennell has created an original, comprehensive, research-validated approach that considers not only the physical aspects of chronic illness, but the psychological, social, and economic aspects as well.
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"The Center for Excellence in Chronic Illness Care promotes excellence in nursing care of persons with or at risk for chronic illness through the integration of practice, research, and education. The Center provides opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines, to train researchers of the future, and to support the delivery of research results into clinical practice."
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A chronic illness changes your frame of reference; secure plans for the future may suddenly be overturned. Your relative may not be able to depend on his/her body, mind, or livelihood. You may feel overwhelmed with new responsibilities and not know where to start in figuring out what to do. You or your relative might make sudden decisions in an effort to feel some sense of control. It's a good idea to avoid making major decisions at the initial diagnosis and during any acute stages of the condition. Potential relocation or placement issues need to be made carefully, taking all factors into consideration.
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Caring for a child with a chronic illness involves making many medical decisions, solving problems, and constant care giving. These stressors can cause repressed feelings and conflicting roles. Taking time to communicate with your children and your spouse will bring you closer to one another. Open communication allows fears and concerns to be expressed and addressed. Communication will ... help you to get to know one another better.
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Research shows a connection between marriage and increased health benefits for both partners. However, sometimes spouses can still develop a chronic illness during a marriage or may even enter a marriage with a severe physical or chronic illness. In committed relationships the healthy partner often serves as caretaker. Although the duties of caretaker can bring a sense of purpose or meaning to the healthy partner, these duties can ... become a strain on the relationship. Spouses or partners who act as primary caretakers can become physically and emotionally exhausted, feel overwhelmed, or at times even unfulfilled. Yet, the social support of marriage can be crucial to the ill partner in coping with chronic illness. Chronic illness can also occur in children and cause strain on a marriage. For more information on chronic illness or how to cope with the challenges of chronic illness to a healthy relationship, please see one of the resources below.
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One member's chronic illness influences the lives of everyone in the family. Roles and routines change. It may seem as if the medical professionals that care for the ill family member become part of the family. The demands of caregiving must be negotiated. Family members' emotions may be on a continuous roller-coaster ride. On the other hand, families may come together and grow closer.
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Chronic Illness Care