Mind, Body, Soul (Holistic Care)

Those looking for a new approach to healthcare that encompasses all aspects of our being (mind, body, and soul) should consider adding holistic care to their care management plan. Our mind, body, and soul work together to go about our day-to-day life, and holistic care seeks to use this same ideology when treating any imbalances.

The Difference Between Holistic and Traditional Care

Traditional healthcare looks at problems as their own separate thing. For example, if you have a sore throat, your provider may consider what infection is causing it. You will likely be given an antibiotic to clear up the infection and then be sent your way. However, this does not address the problem that allowed you to be more susceptible to an illness in the first place, which is what holistic care focuses on.

In the same scenario as above, holistic care would involve treating the sore throat and considering what might be impeding your immune system. Are you sleeping too little, or are you suffering from a nutritional deficiency that is making your immune system not as effective? These are aspects of holistic care that look at all areas of your well-being when managing conditions.

Holistic Care Advantages

Prevention

More than just treating a problem that has already manifested, holistic care also focuses on disease prevention, helping you to avoid illness in the first place.

Holistic care is based on the belief that your physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs all affect your overall health, and if you are unwell in one area all the others can suffer.

Stress is the best example of this. Stress is a psychological response, but it can cause physical problems such as difficulty sleeping, headaches, and weight gain. By reducing your stress levels, you can prevent physical health concerns such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and sleep deprivation.

Thinking Outside the Box

Holistic care requires providers to think outside the box and acknowledge that not everything is straightforward. It requires the provider to understand all aspects of your life to try and see where any connections between symptoms exist.

Treatment

Holistic care providers can use a wide range of treatments based on your symptoms and current needs.

Most people may view holistic health care as shying away from modern medicine, but that is not true. Depending on your health condition, your holistic care provider may prescribe medication or suggest surgery. However, they are likely to combine this treatment for the physical self with treatments for the mental and spiritual self, such as massage, acupuncture, yoga, or exercise plans. Some providers may even suggest psychological or spiritual counseling, many times in conjunction with other forms of treatment.

Holistic Care for Overall Wellness

Wellness is what we all wish to achieve, but it can seem impossible to do this when considering each aspect of our life as its own separate thing. All systems of the body are interconnected, and all aspects of our life are the same way.

Holistic care focuses on these connections between physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being to diagnose and treat conditions based on the true root cause, often seemingly unrelated. Additionally, holistic care has a strong basis in preventive care, helping to stop something before it becomes a problem.

Holistic care is a significant benefit to many seniors' overall wellness, and can go a long way in preventing damaging diseases; schedule a free consultation with Long Life Care Management today to see how we can incorporate holistic health into the care management plan you or a loved one.