Whose responsibility is self-management?

“Self management is an individual’s responsibility and supporting this process, ensuring effective care and support is in place is everyone’s responsibility. To suggest that people should look after themselves may seem like stating the obvious. However, many people either do not have the necessary information and skills to make well informed decisions about their life or they choose not to. Whatever the reason, successful management of life with a long term condition also requires a degree of self awareness. People need to be realistic about their condition and any limitations it may place on them, as well as how their life choices impact upon it. They also need to be aware of the positive steps they can take to manage their condition and expand their life choices. This is why partnership with the individual is central to the self management agenda.

Where people can access timely and appropriate information and support they will be more able to make well informed decisions about their life. Part of this is therefore about enabling everyone, individuals and organisations, to develop an understanding of recovery as a possibility for us all. That may mean recovery at different levels with regards to the challenges faced. Recovery needs to be adopted as a concept relating to self respect, spirit, self esteem and sense of self. While people are generally unlikely to recover from the condition itself, effective management of symptoms balanced with increased autonomy and independence can help recover optimum wellbeing. Quality of life is critical with a key factor being the ability to live well in the presence or absence of the difficulties long term conditions present.” (Gaun Yersel, 2008)