Living Independently With A Chronic Illness

Introduction

Living with a chronic illness is an ongoing journey that often involves complex care routines, managing unexpected symptoms, and prioritising self-sufficiency.

According to ONS, almost half of the UK population reported having a long-standing health problem. This is a significant amount of the UK population that lives every day with a chronic health condition.

Some of the most common long-term chronic illness that affects the UK are COPD, diabetes, and mobility challenges. All of which requires a long-term treatment plan.

At Red Button Telecare, we understand that maintaining independence and quality of life is key when living with a chronic illness, but so is knowing that reliable help is always available.

This is where modern telecare steps in. In this article, we will examine some of the challenges of living with a chronic illness and how Red Button Telecare provides an essential safety net that empowers individuals to navigate these complexities with greater confidence and peace of mind.

Understanding the core challenges of living with chronic illness

Maintaining Independence

According to a recent study* titled “Maintaining autonomy: How older persons with chronic conditions and their significant others interpret, navigate, and overcome everyday difficulties” found that most of the “participants explicitly saw themselves as independent or striving for independence.”

At Red Button, we understand that the desire to remain comfortable and autonomous in your own home is paramount. This is precisely what our best-selling ‘Out & About Watch’ provides. This discreet, easy-to-use device is perfect for elderly individuals, vulnerable adults, or anyone who needs on-the-go safety and independence.

Fear of falling

Several long-term conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis and vision problems such as glaucoma and cataracts, increase the risk of falling due to mobility issues, poor vision, dizziness, poor balance and so on.

The fear of falling may result in a lack of confidence, anxiety and reduced quality of life for those living with a chronic illness.

Our ‘Out & About Watch’ features a hard falls detector. This means that the wrist-worn device can detect a hard fall, such as a trip and falling hard to the floor. If the watch does not detect a fall as it is a stumble or a slow fall, the wearer can easily activate the SOS call with a simple click of a button.

Burden on loved ones

Many chronic illness sufferers do not want to burden their friends, families and loved ones with their care needs or the financial costs associated with their care. They want to be independent and provide peace of mind to themselves and their loved ones.

This is where the Red Button Telecare ‘Out & About Watch’ can really help. The watch comes with a free app for relatives that can help to provide peace of mind and reassurance to your friends, family and loved ones.

The watch also has built-in GPS tracking so that their location is automatically shared when the alarm is activated.

The watch connects via the 4G mobile network and supports two-way speech, allowing you to speak directly with our operators, just like using a mobile phone.

Conclusion

Living independently with a chronic illness should never mean living alone with fear. As we’ve discussed in this article, managing conditions like COPD, diabetes, and mobility challenges requires proactive steps, and the fundamental desire to maintain your independence remains strong.

Telecare, specifically the Red Button Telecare ‘Out & About Watch,’ offers a tangible solution that bridges the gap between the need for safety and the desire for independence. By providing features like automatic hard fall detection and built-in GPS tracking, the watch addresses the most critical risks of chronic illness while empowering the wearer to continue living an active life outside of their home.

Your journey with a chronic illness is unique, but the need for reliable, round-the-clock support is universal. Don’t compromise your independence.
Ready to explore how the ‘Out & About Watch’ can secure your independence? Contact us or visit our website to learn more.

E: hello@redbuttontelecare.co.uk

T: 0800-0086277

W: redbuttontelecare.co.uk

*Ballmer, T. and Gantschnig, B. (2023) ‘Maintaining autonomy: How older persons with chronic conditions and their significant others interpret, navigate, and overcome everyday difficulties’, Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 31(1). doi: 10.1080/11038128.2023.2249959.