HEALTHCARE IS WHAT YOU DO FOR YOURSELF

Self care is the most important type of care, followed by ​informal care given by friends and family. Professional health services are obviously important but it is what you do for yourself that really counts  and that means you have to think about what you want from life, whatever your age.

You have to think about and decide a number of things such as 

• what you want from life, for example to stay as well as possible as long as possible 
• why you want it, for example to help your spouse or your children
• what obstacles you face, obstacles such as low income, or depression or unhelpful attitudes of other people 

The One You health app developed by Public Health and NHS England talks you through some of these issues but you also need to discuss them with friends and family, and there is one other question that is really important but which is, at present, seldom discussed

• how do you see the end of life and what would you call a good death?

This last question is tough but there are lots of people now discussing it and the key issue is the preparation of an advanced care directive 


Some people would say that all  this is a waste of time because nothing can be done about what they believe will be an inevitable decline into a state of disability and dependence on others but this is not the case. we all need to be more positive about ageing and the last years and months  of life

There are a  number of ways in which  you have to manage long term  health conditions 

• you have to adapt to a diagnosis being made, which often comes as a shock
• there may be consequences such as the loss of ability to perform an essential function; or depression, or isolation  and other people may regard you in a different way 
• you make have to make a big decision about whether or not to have an operation ​