Lesson Three - Management
Impacts
As alluded to earlier, the patient is not the only one who is impacted when they have a chronic illness. Their family, friends, peers, and community all feel some impact.
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When someone is experiencing the challenges and symptoms associated with having chronic conditions, there are going to be a number of social impacts. It can be hard to put the same energy into nurturing relationships as was invested before
the chronic condition. This puts much of the onus on others to put extra energy into supporting the patient and nurturing the relationship. As time progresses, this energy can be hard to maintain, leading to a decrease in social interactions.
This impact can be lessened when family and friends access in-person and online support groups, counselling, and connect with the societies that raise awareness for the particular condition. For those who don’t know where to start looking for support, Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta exists with the sole purpose of connecting community members to needed support resources.
This impact can be lessened when family and friends access in-person and online support groups, counselling, and connect with the societies that raise awareness for the particular condition. For those who don’t know where to start looking for support, Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta exists with the sole purpose of connecting community members to needed support resources.
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Social impacts are affected by more than just extra energy needed to keep the relationship strong.There can be a feeling of awkwardness and fear of saying the wrong thing on the part of those surrounding the patient. This feeling can prevent the
meaningful community interaction and support that the family and patient need and cause a feeling of loneliness. This feeling of loneliness, when paired with other natural emotions, can contribute to greater emotional impacts.
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While it is true that Canada’s socialized medicine relieves the basic costs of seeking care, there are other costs and economic impacts that must be realized when discussing the impacts of a chronic condition. For example, the patient and/or their
caregiver may find themselves either unable to work or unable to work the hours they worked previous to the diagnosis, causing a decrease in income. Medication may be expensive and need to be factored into the budget and use monies that previously
were spent elsewhere. Some families may decide to seek treatment privately which could require costs to be paid out of pocket.
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There may also be travel required to receive treatment. The list of ways that a chronic condition can impact the patient and those surrounding them is as long and varied as the number of conditions and situations of the patients that have them.