Chronic illnesses last over 6 months and include conditions like cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. They are caused by genetics, lifestyle, and environment. People with chronic illnesses have significant needs related to employment, finances, health, housing, and self-esteem. Meeting these needs can be challenging, especially if the illness limits one physically or psychologically or impacts their ability to work. Access to resources may also be affected by one's socioeconomic status, age, or disabilities.

1. Chronic Illness

2. Characteristics
• If a condition has lasted more then 6 months it is
considered to be a chronic illness
• Examples of chronically ill people include those with
cancer, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, arthritis.
• Factors affecting the cause include heredity, life style
(stress, diet, exercise etc.) and even environmental
factors

3. 5 Needs of Priority
• Employment
• Financial support
• Health
• Housing
• Self-esteem

4. Employment
• Difficulties will arise if the chronic illness is
physically or psychologically limiting
• If unemployed, a person will need to seek welfare
payments from the government and this can
become emotionally challenging
• This can become difficult if primary wage earner
in family becomes chronically ill which in turn can
change whole dynamics of the family structure
Difficulties will arise if the chronic illness is
physically or psychologically limiting

5. Financial Support
• Significant costs are associated with medical
costs and treatment and in many cases a
person may have multiple illnesses adding to
these costs
• When a chronic illness impacts on
employment opportunities there will be
considerable financial strain

6. Health
• Chronically ill have significant health care
needs, such as visits to a general practitioner,
followed by diagnostic tests, pharmaceutical
prescriptions, consultations with specialists,
visits the hospital and possible surgery
• People with a chronic disease make-up 52/100
visits to GP’s

7. Housing
• Modifications to a house may be required if a
person has physical limitations such as ramps,
handrails, and modified toilet and bathing
facilities
• In some cases patients cannot stay in their
homes as it is too far away from medical
services

8. Self-Esteem
• A person with a serious medical illness is at
risk of developing associated emotional
problems unlike those with temporary
sickness such as the flu
• They must take good care of their bodies and
accept limitations as well as celebrating their
strengths

9. Factors Affecting Access to Resources:
• Socio-economic status
• Age
• Disability

10. Socio-economic status
• Many suffering can not work and have no income as
their illness is that bad.
• They rely on the public health system.
• They also have limited housing options which may not
suit their needs.
• Physical wellbeing affected as they cannot afford
nutritious foods
• Economic wellbeing affected as they cannot afford to
pay bills
• Socioeconomic wellbeing is affected as they may have
feelings of doubt

11. Age
• Youth do not have as much knowledge about
what they could be doing to help prevent or
maintain their illness, however they have
greater skills in finding resources
• Older people are less mobile and usually have
more than one chronic illness making all of
their conditions worse

12. • Those who are suffering from a chronic illness
and also have a disability can find it hard to
understand what is going on and do not know
how to maintain their illness.
Disability