This blog has placed an emphasis on giving for health to communicate the social side of managing one's health at home.
Giving for health is important to both the giver and person needing help.
There are many good reasons why giving for health is important. Firstly, when you give for health, those who give get involved in health decisions that could affect them.
Because persons are connected, their health is also connected.
Other reasons for giving could be:
-For support and encouragement
-To prevent the breakdown of a relationships when lifestyle changes are necessary
-For success in accomplishing better health outcomes
-For financial support because of related financial needs
-For an improvement in the person's wellbeing.
-For better recovery from illness
-To protect health
- To preserve family life affected by illness
Family and friends can a be a source of health information when they give gifts of health.
Family and friends can also be a source for health awareness. Family and friends can foster feelings of wellbeing and instill hope instead of despair.
In one study researchers found that patients recovering from a heart attack had poorer quality of life, more likely to suffer from angina and be depressed if their level of support was low.
Read about this study.
Both individuals and their support network can contribute to healthier outcomes. Individuals can do so by asking for their health's sake; family and friends can contribute by giving and supporting in times of health needs.
Giving for health can be done in many ways, for example by giving:
- Products that promote health and wellbeing
- Devices and equipment for self care.
- Medical coverage or payment for medical intervention.
- Support not abandonment
- Encouragement, not redicule
- Help with lifestyle changes
- Monetary help
- Giving for health research
- Giving gifts of health instead of another
An example of a time when giving is especially valuable is with smoking cessation. Smoking is a major cause of diseases and premature deaths. It is not easy to quit especially without help.
If a friend's or family's life is already physically challenge, quitting can save it. Help from family and friends makes quitting easier.
Researchers have found that alcohol consumption behaviour within one's social network can affect their own alcohol consmption behaviour. They found that the behaviours of family and friends were significantly associated with a person's drinking.
These are times when giving for health can be especially helpful.
- To improve the person's quality of life
- Elder care
- During temporary ill-health
- For smoking cessation help
- When lifestyle changes are necessary
- Surviving mental illness
- Assistance with daily living at home
- When weight loss is crucial
- To support cancer other health research
Remember when you give for health, your gifts can last all year round and all lifelong.
