Exploring Self Care
Empowering patients to take control of their own health.
Category
What is self-care?
What comes to mind when you think of “self-care”? Mental health days? Candles and bubble baths? Yoga? Self-care involves taking action to support your well-being, as well as having access to the resources and tools that empower you to take care of yourself.
Self-care is, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.” This generally applies to communities where access to healthcare is disrupted or scarce. But it can apply to any community regardless of their access to healthcare.
What are Self-Care Interventions?
Self-care interventions are broadly defined as resources and tools people can use to take care of themselves whether they have access to formal healthcare or not. Some self-care interventions include access to at-home COVID and HPV tests, personal blood glucose or blood pressure monitors, non-judgmental health education, group medical visits, health fairs, and medications that prevent disease or help cope with a chronic illness.
Where Self-Care Meets Health Care.
While not all communities experience healthcare access issues the same way, integrating self-care interventions into communities and health care infrastructure can improve overall public health. Self-care initiatives are necessary for empowering people to not only care about but have the tools and resources to take control of their own health.
Klamath Falls is a community that has proven our interest in self-care by becoming a certified Blue Zones community and investing in a Wellness Center. By continuing to invest in initiatives that are at their core, self-care. By continuing to invest in these initiatives, Klamath Falls will continue to be a wellness leader.
