Every year approximately 5 million people suffer from the painful, often debilitating effects of fibromyalgia. This condition that leads to tender points throughout the body that are extremely painful, particularly to the touch. This is one of the issues of senior care that often go overlooked do to the misunderstandings and misinformation surrounding this disease. As a senior care provider, you may not fully understand the disease, or its implications for the life of the senior who is suffering from it. After all, there are no visible effects of the disease, and the only way to know a person is suffering is by their own words and deeds. Unfortunately, this can lead to a tremendous amount of insensitivity. On May 12th this year, make the commitment to raise awareness, education and sensitivity in senior care regarding fibromyalgia by joining with the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association and various other businesses and organizations throughout the nation and observing Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is the opportunity for you to learn more about fibromyalgia, and provide comfort, support and encouragement for an aging loved one coping with this disease. Through various community events and fundraising opportunities, you have the chance to educate yourself and others regarding the realities of the disease, how it manifests, who is at risk, and how the disease can be treated. If you are interested in participating in a Fibromyalgia Awareness Day event, contact the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association to find out where in your community events are being held. If you find out that there are no events planned for your community, don’t hesitate to plan one for yourself. The Association will provide you with a tremendous amount of information that will help you put together a community picnic, health fair, walk or other event to raise awareness for the disease.
The various different awareness and education opportunities encourage communities across the nation to hold similar events. Picnics and walks are among the most popular of events to raise awareness for fibromyalgia, but many other groups choose to have tables or booths at local community health fairs, farmers markets or other events. While the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association always appreciate any fundraising activities that are performed during these events, they emphasized that the purpose of this day is not fundraising, but rather the raising of awareness and education of the disease. This means that you should not feel pressured to attempt to raise a tremendous amount of money with your event, but rather plan or attend an event with the purpose of learning more about the disease, and making a personal dedication to make a difference in the life of a senior who is coping with the painful and often alienating condition.
For more information on the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit that helps senior veterans pay for in-home care services, or if you have a general question about VA Home Care, please don’t hesitate to call Veterans Home Care at 888-314-6075
