Holistic care is not a new concept, but it’s one that is quickly growing in popularity in the United States. It is the belief that care cannot stop at the doctor’s office and must be present at every stage of our daily lives. Holistic care treats the whole person, and not just an illness or disability. It takes physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health into account when helping people.
It is growing in popularity for a reason–it works. In fact, there are studies that show that those who have a firm connection within a church or another place of worship tend to be safer and healthier. A lot of insurance companies even use this level of connection to help assess the amount of risk that an individual is at for payment purposes. Religion might be a taboo subject, but it’s widely acknowledged that strong religious ties lead to better overall health.
A lot of people place holistic care in the category of Eastern medicine and have decided that it must not be as effective as “modern” Western medicine. This is a cultural bias that simply isn’t true. While Eastern medicine can sometimes have a bad rap because of certain practices that focus on the mind over the body, holistic medicine focuses both on the mind and the body. It takes into account the fact that we are not just creatures of flesh and blood, but also emotional, spiritual individuals. There may be aspects of Eastern medicine that focus on the mind too much, but there are also aspects of Western medicine that discount the importance of mental health. When both are given proper attention, studies show that the person being treated is a lot healthier and happier.
Providing for more than one of your loved one’s needs is important. Perhaps you have gotten really good at ensuring that your mom gets to all of her doctors’ appointments and is following her medication schedule and all other recommendations perfectly. But, maybe you’re having a tough time providing supervision during the day because of obligations at work or with your kids. This is far more common than you might think. And it’s okay to reach out for help.
That’s where a professional care service like ours can step in and be of assistance. Having a skilled caregiver on your side isn’t an acknowledgement that you’re providing a poor quality of care. It isn’t saying that you can’t do a good job. It isn’t giving up on the people that you love. It’s looking for ways to make the great job that you’re already doing a little better. It’s making sure that your loved ones are getting the best, and not just good. It’s doing the little things to cover all of their needs and not just some of them.
Holistic care isn’t about hokey superstition. It’s acknowledging that we are complex individuals and need more than just medication to be complete. It acknowledges that we have needs beyond what just a doctor can provide. It takes into account our need for companionship, religion, and fun.
It’s about being human.
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