What is self care?
Self care is part of daily living and describes what we do to take care of our own health and well being. Self care is what we do to:
- Stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health
- Meet our social and psychological needs
- Prevent illness or accidents
- Deal with for minor ailments and long-term conditions (such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease)
- Maintain health and wellbeing after an episode of illness or when we leave hospital
It can include the care extended to children, family, friends and others in our neighbourhoods and local communities.
To make self care work, both the public and health care professionals need knowledge and information, skills and motivation.
View the Department of Health website to find out more information about Self Care.
Self care in the North West
Self care is an important strand of our work to reduce health inequalities in our region. It’s also an important part of Healthier Horizons, our vision for healthcare in the North West over the coming decade, which involves supporting and encouraging people to become more active partners in their own health.
Helping you to take care of you
- Do you have a long-term health condition?
- Do you want to feel more in control of your health?
- Do you want to know what is available to help you do this?
If you have answered yes to these questions, then there is an excellent new resource now available to you on the NHS Choices website.
Your health, your way is a guide to help you get the information you need to be better able to manage your health in a way that suits you. Whether you want to know more about your condition, making small changes to your lifestyle or attending a structured course to help you with your condition, these are just a few of the things you will find here. Taking care of your health, and having the information, confidence and support to make the right decisions about your health is called ‘self care’.
Self care means looking after yourself in a healthy way and if you have a long term condition, there are extra things you may need to consider such as changes in your diet, different types of exercise, or using new equipment that will allow you to live a more independent lifestyle.
This interactive resource provides advice and tips that can support you and point you to the right information, and the right help at the right time. It will highlight services to help you self care that will be provided locally from April 2009, if they are not already available. You can find Your health, your way at NHS Choices; view NHS Choices website.
‘Your health, your way’ is a new resource developed by the Department of Health and your feedback would be appreciated. If you have any comments or suggestions please send an e-mail.
Self care Publications
Understanding Selfcare Reference Document
Understanding Selfcare Appendix 1
Understanding Selfcare Appendix 2
Understanding Selfcare Appendix 3
Understanding Selfcare Appendix 4
Reaching Out Report
WiPP Self Care for You Project in the North West