Learn more about CFSS in Minnesota
Millions of Americans currently live with a chronic medical disease. While their condition may not prevent them from maintaining a normal lifestyle, they do face challenges every day. No matter your age, simply keeping medications organized and getting to doctors' appointments can be a struggle.
This is where a home care professional comes in. A personal care assistant can help you manage a medical condition and empower you to live a full and fulfilling life. At Best Care, we work with personal care assistants that care for individuals living with a range of chronic conditions.
“Chronic condition” is a catch-all term used to describe illnesses that cannot be cured and will stay with individuals for the rest of their lives. While it may be an ongoing condition, there are often still treatments that can help people live full and happy lives.
Here are a few examples of chronic conditions:
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, while Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin.
Epilepsy affects the brain and causes frequent seizures, with symptoms varying from person to person. While it can affect people at any age, it’s most common to appear in childhood or after the age of 60.
This chronic pain condition can also result in a range of associated symptoms, including but not limited to:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation, or balance. It’s one of the most common causes of disability in young adults.
Along with medication reminders and appointment assistance, a personal care assistant can help with many other daily tasks, such as dressing, toileting, and food preparation. But perhaps the most important benefit is the morale-boosting friendship and companionship!
What’s more, receiving care over long periods of time can be much cheaper when completed at home. For many people, it’s far preferable to recuperate or receive care in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by friends, family, and familiar faces.
Transitional care is also a type of homecare service that is provided to individuals while moving between different health care facilities. This care can be provided during the wait time before moving into a senior living facility or upon moving home after a major surgery. Transitional care is extremely beneficial for those living with chronic medical conditions and helps them to adjust back to home life or to new care environments.
In many cases, a family member or friend will offer to provide home care for the individual affected by a chronic medical condition. This type of at-home care is often done out of love and with no compensation; however, this does not need to be the case.
Many states offer PCA programs that help caregivers get paid for taking care of a family member with a medical condition.
If you have any questions about in-home supportive services, or how to get paid for taking care of a family member in Minnesota, please reach out to the Best Care team.
