Friendship Foundation Programs...
A New Focus on Health Care
The Australian health care system has been predominately oriented to respond to acute conditions (such as injury and infectious diseases), and short term responses. However, the growing burden of chronic disease in Australia has driven a shift in health service delivery from acute care, to a proactive, multi-disciplinary care system, with an increased focus on preventing and managing chronic disease.
The Foundation has been aware of the crisis in chronic health care for several years. That is the reason that the organisation was formed. The National Chronic Disease Strategy (NCDS) was endorsed by Health Ministers’ in 2005 and provides the strategic policy direction for chronic disease prevention and management in Australia.
However it is not enough to manage chronic illness - we also need to focus on preventing it!
The Foundation has developed two types of plans:
• Self-Managed Chronic Care Plans – To manage chronic illness and injury
• Self-Managed Care Plans – To prevent the onset of chronic illness
Self-Managed Chronic Care Plans
Introducing Self-Managed Chronic Care Plans is one of the most important initiatives the Commonwealth can implement. It has been the missing link to provide Australians with the skills to take charge of their health. This is critical if the Commonwealth hopes to manage the challenges of an ageing population and chronic disease.
How can this new initiative help you?
• It has a greater focus on prevention rather than cure;
• It will allow you and your loved ones, in partnership with your primary health care professional, to develop medical plans that you
can understand be an active participant in achieving;
• It could help to develop strategies to stop you developing more health problems;
• It could help you improve and/or sustain your quality of life;
It could give you more skills to:
• Help you manage the difficult situations of ageing parents
• Help you manage the challenges of having sick children
• Face your our health challenges.
Taking ownership of and responsibility for the management of your
chronic condition is the best way to maximise your quality of life.
Self-Managed Care Plans
Self-Management of Overall Health
Managing your overall health is a process of consciously working towards reach your optimum health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental, social and spirituals well-being, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realise aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment.
Health is a positive concept emphasising social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.
Why the Foundation will focus on Self-Managed Care Plans
Preventing chronic conditions is essential if we are to change the tide of Chronic Disease. The statistics are daunting:
• Chronic disease is responsible for 60% of all deaths worldwide;
• 80% of chronic disease deaths occur in area of low or middle incomes;
• Almost half of chronic disease deaths occur in people under the age of 70;
• Around the world, chronic disease affects women and men almost equally;
• The major risk factors for chronic disease are an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use;
• Without action, 17 million people will die prematurely this year from a chronic disease;
• One billion adults are overweight - without action, this figure will surpass 1.5 billion by 2015;
• 22 million children under five years old are overweight;
• Tobacco use causes at least five million deaths each year;
If the major risk factors for chronic disease were eliminated, at least 80% of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes would be prevented; and 40% of cancer would be prevented.
(World Health Organization 2005).
