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Help with chronic diseases
A chronic disease is one that lasts a long time and progresses slowly. We are more likely to have a chronic disease as we grow older -- health expenditure for people aged 65 years and over is three times that for the population as a whole.
If you are aged over 75 years and living in an aged care home, you can have your health checked periodically through Medicare.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at higher risk -- a health check is available every year for people aged 55 years and over, and every two years for those aged 15 to 54 years. These are carried out by general practitioners and Aboriginal community-controlled health services.
Chronic diseases presently make up more than 70 per cent of Australia’s overall disease burden and this is expected to increase to 80 per cent by 2020.
Read more: About chronic diseases
Living with a chronic disease
There are many sources of help and advice if you are suffering from a chronic health condition. Your doctor can put you in touch with local sources of support, and there is a range of options for care in your home or in an aged care home, as well as sources of information about your condition.Read more: About living with a chronic disease
Help for families, friends and carers of people with a chronic disease
Carers, family members and friends of people with a chronic illness can learn more about their condition, find out how they can help, or obtain advice about services such as respite carei through several Australian Government sources.Read more: About help for families, friends and carers of people with a chronic disease
Chronic disease resources
Practical help is often only a phone call away, and ranges from advice about equipment to arrangements for assistance in your home.Read more: On chronic disease resources
Useful contacts for chronic disease
There are some key organisations across Australia that are useful contacts for more information and services on a range of chronic diseases.Read more: About useful contacts for chronic disease
Prevention and awareness
Chronic diseases are preventable. Regular medical checks coupled with a healthy lifestyle can help you avoid disease, or increase your chances of detecting something early and treating it effectively.Read more: About prevention and awareness
