Friends and Loved Ones Can Help Too!
If you live with - or care about - someone with a chronic disease:

Pitch in: Offer to help with errands, heavy household chores, snow removal, lawn care, food preparation, etc.  Your efforts will help your loved one conserve energy, avoid exhaustion, and limit anxiety over daily living issues.

Limit smoking: Breathing other people's smoke can irritate the lungs, making breathing difficult.  You can help your loved one by quitting smoking, or smoking outside.

Provide emotional support: Take time to listen to the person's feelings and concerns.  It's common for persons with a chronic illness to feel anxious, angry, scared or depressed.  Point out successful lifestyle changes.  Encourage the person to set and meet realistic goals.

Ask questions: It is important that you understand your loved one's condition and the elements that may affect it.  The health care team working with your loved one can answer, or find answers, to almost any question regarding the health of your loved one.  Please, ask questions.

Make your self aware of the daily routine: Your loved one will have a daily routine that they are encouraged to follow.  Make sure that they are following their routine.  If you notice your loved one having problems following the routine, notify your healthcare provider.  They can help you and your loved one make different plans and adjust.

Remember to take care of yourself:  It can be difficult, physically and emotionally, assisting in the care of someone with a chronic illness.  It is important to maintain your own physical and emotional health to be of benefit to your loved one.

Lean on your health care team: The nurse and social worker or chaplain, are not just available for your loved one.  They are a support system for you as well.  Let them know if you are feeling pressure to having problems caring for your loved one, or just need to talk.  They can help you take care of yourself too.