RESIDENTS are being encouraged to take positive steps to take care and improve their health during Self Care Week.
The national awareness campaign runs from November 17 to 23 and aims to encourage people to take control of their health this winter.
Self care means taking care of your body, keeping fit and healthy, knowing how and when to take medicines, seek help when needed and managing long-term conditions.
As part of the initiative, the team from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Health Improvement Team in Oldham has produced ten top tips towards good self-management.
They are:
- Take care of your own health needs: ignoring your symptoms won’t make them go away – listen to your body’s needs, take control, keep warm and ask for help when you need it
- Keep moving: physical activity at any level is better than doing nothing at all, and should be something you enjoy doing so you keep it up
- Eat sensibly: don’t reach for the snacks, plan ahead and prepare meals in advance
- Communicate: don’t presume people know how you are feeling – talk to your family, friends and health care team, write points down you want to discuss before appointments that way you won’t forget anything
- Take positive, planned action: set yourself realistic, achievable goals and stick to them
- Pace yourself: remembering to stop and rest throughout the day still gets the job done – overdoing it will only increase symptoms
- Look around you: use local resources to find out what’s available to you and what’s out there i.e. your local library is a valuable resource centre not just somewhere to loan a book
- Be good to yourself: reward your achievements ie go for lunch with a friend
- Buy a calendar/diary: that way you won’t forget anything and can use it as your planner
- Adopting a positive approach: helps us make smarter decisions, reduces stress levels and it’s never too late to start!
Lianne Davies, Oldham Health and Wellbeing Manager at Pennine Care, said people can use the tips and Self Care Week as a starting point to improve their health.
She commented: “Self Care Week is a good opportunity to highlight simple things you can do to look after your health and wellbeing, from planning your eating and exercise regime to talking to friends and family about your goals.
“Our Health Improvement staff are on hand to support you to improve your health, whether it’s quitting smoking, losing weight or exercising more.”
For more information or to get support from the Health Improvement Team call 0161 621 7128 or visit their website.
