Understanding Acopia

October is Acopia Awareness Month. Check for the signs that your loved one may not be coping.

It’s more common than you might think. In fact, someone close to you might even have shown signs of acopia recently.

Acopia is a term that some in the medical fraternity use to describe the apparent inability to cope with the usual happenings of daily life. Tasks and physical actions that once were so easily handled, suddenly seem so much more difficult.

Leading aged care provider, Radius Care, is on a mission this October, during Acopia Awareness Month, to promote understanding of acopia and to prevent some of the negative outcomes that can arise from the condition.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

It could be something as simple as not having sufficient ingredients to make a simple meal in the fridge or pantry.

Or, maybe that a once welldressed and groomed person stops looking after themselves.

These and other changes are red flags that the person is experiencing a sense of being overwhelmed by life and its various responsibilities. They’re also telltale signs that positive action, as in residential care, may be necessary.

AN EXPERT’S VIEW

Laurel Winwood, Manager of Radius Care’s Taupaki Gables residence in West Auckland, has seen many older folk entering her care with some of the signs of acopia.

The good news is that for many of those people, the caring environment that Laurel and her team provide very quickly sees them back to normal and enjoying life.

“Without the pressure of cooking, cleaning and caring for themselves, they flourish, which is wonderful to see,” said Laurel

“Their smiles light up and, very quickly, they make friends and adapt to their new way of life free from the decisions that used to cause them stress.”

EVERYONE’S FREE FROM WORRY

It’s well-known that the complications of advancing age and an inability to cope aren’t only confined to the older person themselves.

Often their children and other family members – well-intentioned as they almost always are – end up suffering the effects of anxiety that come with ongoing uncertainty.

This is where it’s best for family to move from being the carers - with all the attendant responsibilities – to simply being the people who care.

In the hands of qualified healthcare professionals, the older person will return to feeling safe and secure and their family members can revert to their normal and most comfortable roles as supportive guardians and advocates.

THERE ARE OPTIONS

If you feel like someone close to you is displaying signs of acopia and you’re unsure what to do next, just reach out to a reputable aged care provider. Radius Care is one you can trust to offer impartial, credible advice that will place the potential resident’s quality of life at the heart of the matter.

They’ll be able to help you work through the options for your loved one in an informed and compassionate way.

They’ll also be able to help you discover some of the funding avenues might be open to you to ease the way forward.

Yes, the onset of acopia can be upsetting for everyone involved. But seen as a warning sign of underlying issues that haven’t yet fully revealed themselves, it can often be a blessing in disguise.