Strategy In Improving The Quality Of Life
Strategy In Improving The Quality Of Life
Quality of life describes the well-being of an individual and how it may become impacted by a disability, disease or disorder. For instance, stress due to a chronic disease can affect the quality of life of a person (Phillips, 2006). Quality of life must be guarded at all times; individuals should always take care of persons that are affected by certain conditions. Various interventions such as relaxation and exercises should be highly encouraged for individuals having stress emanating from a condition or illness that they have. In the event of a dying person due to a lingering disease like cancer, the well-being of such an individual should be improved. For example, since the individual suffers from a lingering disease, he suffers stress. Various ways of eliminating stress should be highly encouraged. Through the elimination of stress, there will be less impact of the stress to the quality of life of the individual. Besides, proper medication should be enhanced in order to improve the quality of life of the individual having a lingering illness. In addition, proper care should be provided to such an individual.
In the case of Mrs. Thomas, different interventions are required in order to help relieve the pain she and her husband are undergoing. One of the strategies that can be used in improving the quality of life entails guided imagery and meditation (In King & In Hinds, 2011). Guided imagery and meditation helps in reducing the stress level. Mrs. Thomas and her husband are undergoing a lot of stress, which can be mitigated through guided imagery and meditation. For instance, practicing yoga can help in reducing stress levels of the couple. This will lead to enhanced quality of life. Another strategy that can help in improving the quality of life of Mrs. Thomas and her husband is providing a medical counselor that can help in providing medical advice and encouragement to Mrs. Thomas. Mrs. Thomas does not want to take drugs, which deteriorates her condition; however, a medical counselor will encourage her to take drugs that can aid in improving her deteriorating condition. Besides, a brisk 30 minutes walk for five days in a week can aid in reducing emotional distress, which accompany treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy (In King & In Hinds, 2011).
In addition, another strategy in improving the quality of life of the coupe is engaging them in a structured program that promotes coping skills. This will aid in improving psychological and physical health of the couple since they will have an understanding of how they can cope with the suffering. Furthermore, a religious coping is a vital strategy that can help the couple in improving the quality of life.
One of the ways of optimizing Mrs. Thomas’s functional ability is through providing medical advice. The medical advice should focus at giving medical encouragement and support that Mrs. Thomas really wants. For example, she is refusing to take drugs on the basis that she can become addicted. Medical advisers should have the capacity to provide an encouragement such that Mrs. Thomas takes the drugs. In the case of addiction, the medical advisers should be able to provide Mrs. Thomas with a solution to addiction or an alternative means to using the drugs (In King & In Hinds, 2011). Besides, in optimizing her functional ability, religious intervention is a fundamental way of helping Mrs. Thomas. Through religious interventions, Mrs. Thomas will receive spiritual encouragement that is likely to offer her the functional capacity.
Once self-care is not available for Mrs. Thomas, the community around her can give the care that she requires. The community can offer such care through providing moral encouragement. For instance, community health professionals can provide care through giving the encouragement that she needs in order to move on with her life. For example, community health professionals can provide Mrs. Thomas with a free mentorship program that can give encouragement that can aid in decreasing the stress that she has in dealing with the suffering. Besides, a community health center can provide care to Mrs. Thomas once self-care is not possible; for example, a community health center can offer free counseling services to Mrs. Thomas in order to help her recover from the distress and emotional deficiency that she suffers.
In the management of Mr. Thomas’s depression, Mr. Thomas should reduce his working hours and have some meditation time. Mr. Thomas is showing an increased sign of depression due to work stress; therefore, reducing the number of hours that he works will help him in relaxing his mind. In this case, Mr. Thomas should consider taking a sickness leave in order to concentrate with his wife’s condition. This will increase the number of hours that he relaxes. Besides, Mr. Thomas should consider having time out with friends instead of leading a solitary life. Sharing with friends is likely to reduce the level of distress. In addition, in order to manage distress in Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thomas should consider participating in a psychological and physical mentorship program with his wife.
References
In King, C. R., & In Hinds, P. S. (2011). Quality of life: From nursing and patient perspectives : theory, research, practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Phillips, D. (2006). Quality of Life: Concept, Policy and Practice. London: Routledge.