| People who are diagnosed with arthritis may have | | | | It is normal and possible for you to sometimes feel |
| their lifestyle changed quite dramatically. They may | | | | discouraged in your care of the arthritis patient but |
| now need to face many challenges and | | | | please don't get too discouraged as this is a normal |
| inconveniences in their daily walk of life but they | | | | part of the caregiving process. As you try to adjust |
| deserve as much support and care as possible from | | | | your life to help your loved ones, do remember that |
| the people around them. They will not be the only | | | | you will still need to look after yourself as well. Try |
| ones who have to face with the new challenges and | | | | not to make yourself overly tired or taxed. If that |
| changes but also those around them. These people, | | | | happens, you may need to step back a little and get |
| who are normally the spouses, children or siblings, will | | | | supports from support groups which can empathize |
| now take on new roles as the primary caregivers in | | | | with your situation and give you ideas on how to |
| arthritis care of the patients | | | | mitigate the stressful times. Above all, try to maintain |
| The role of a caregiver varies from case to case. | | | | an honest approach in your arthritis care of the |
| Some individuals with arthritis can cope fairly well and | | | | patient so that all parties involved can move forward |
| with only some minor adjustments in their daily | | | | in a positive way. |
| routine. On the other hand, the situation for some | | | | On a practical note, in your care of the arthritis |
| others may be far more difficult. | | | | patient, you may need to be the more active in |
| First and foremost, as a caregiver, it's very important | | | | running the errands and taking heavier workloads. But |
| for you to get as much information as possible about | | | | it is also important for you to keep in mind that your |
| what type of arthritis your loved ones have and | | | | loved ones need to be kept involved and active for |
| what types of treatment that they will be receiving | | | | their health as well. As a caregiver, it doesn't mean |
| and how that will affect them. If possible, accompany | | | | that you must manually do everything for the patient. |
| them when they visit their doctors as this will enable | | | | It just means that the situation where the both of |
| you to be kept updated of their progress and any | | | | you are involved needs a readjustment. Look for |
| adjustments that you may need to make in your | | | | ways to make simple functions around the house a |
| arthritis care regimes. Psychologically, it is more of a | | | | bit easier like installing lifting bars in the bathroom, |
| comfort for the patients to have you there for | | | | finding more comfortable furniture, or buying tools |
| company and to help remember instructions or details | | | | that are user friendly to the arthritic persons. |
| given by the doctors which otherwise may just go in | | | | Another fine area of support is to be a good listener. |
| one ear and out the other. | | | | So much help can be given when a person can talk |
| The next important process is to have an open and | | | | out their fears and anxieties. Be as straightforward |
| honest communication with the patients. This isn't | | | | and practical as you can be even though it is an |
| always easy and may require a great deal of tact | | | | emotional situation. This will help to maintain a positive |
| and patience. It is not easy to understand everything | | | | and forward moving attitude that is essential to |
| that the patients are going through but you want | | | | eventually achieving the best quality of life possible. |
| them to know that you are trying your best to | | | | In summary, arthritis care is a long learning process |
| understand them and will be with them as much as | | | | whereby the arthritis patients and you, the caregiver, |
| possible. Studies have shown that people who have | | | | needs to give yourselves the time to adjust to the |
| this disease improved faster when they are not in | | | | situation and to eventually move forward in a |
| any stressful or negative situation. | | | | positive way. |