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Long Term Conditions ( Ltc ) Essay

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Long-term conditions (LTC) are defined as “any ongoing, long-term or recurring condition that can have a significant impact on people’s lives” (National Health Committee NHC, 2007, p. 116). Two out of three adults within NZ have or have had a LTC, resulting in the most prominent cause for hospital admissions, premature deaths and an increase in health expenditure (Auckland District Health Board, 2013). This assignment will cover Olivia’s (pseudo name) experience of living with a LTC and how this has impacted her life. A reflection on learning about LTC will be included as well as a discussion on the implications I may encounter in my future practice when caring for a LTC patient will conclude the assignment.

Olivia is a 48-year-old female of New Zealand/European ethnicity who currently works as a full time teacher aid for a special needs school. She is happily married, with three grown children. Olivia is currently living in her own home with her husband and daughter in Auckland. After the birth of her daughter in 1996 she began to get severe pain in her shoulders and hands to the point where the pain would wake her in the night. Initially, Olivia’s general practitioner (GP) believed the pain experienced was related to an increase of hormones and depression post labour. For two years, Olivia lived with this pain waiting patiently for a diagnosis. In 1998, she consulted a recommended GP and was immediately diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

RA is an

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