It’s hard taking care of yourself.

I’m not what medical professionals would call a poster child. Though I have had a family doctor, I have relied on walk-in clinics and hospital emergency rooms many times in the last 30 years — usually because I left things unattended.

This summer, I injured my Achilles tendons during a spirited game of Ultimate Frisbee (things get intense on the field). When I visited the sports doctor a few days later, he told me to take it easy for several weeks and let it heal.

I did the exercises he advised me to do, but I didn’t heed his warning. A week later, I was throwing a disc around and running at full speed again.

Sometimes ignoring the doctor’s advice works, sometimes it doesn’t.

I now have the whole winter ahead of me to let my tendons heal.

I assume I’m not the only one neglecting health issues until I’m forced to deal with them — especially those uncomfortable doctor’s visits you’re encouraged to take after you turn 50.

Although I like to think I take good care of myself, more often than not it’s my wife and family that push me to get checked out.

If I’m not willing to listen to sound medical advice, what about those that have significant mental health concerns or even a greater fear of medical professionals?

There are always huge concerns people suffering from mental illness find it hard to take care of themselves.

Psychotic medications often have adverse side effects that affect the decision to continue taking the drugs.

If someone happens to be homeless and mentally ill, there is a good chance their physical health is deteriorating rapidly and only addressed once it reaches a critical point.

These people often end up in the hospital for a little while before being released back to the streets. It’s easy to turn into a cycle — drifting in and out of hospitals while living on the streets between episodes.

There is very little support for people who come out of hospitals and need a bed to rest and recover. Often times, health care institutions send people to homeless shelters shortly after surgery — major or minor — or other serious treatments. These people often end up returning to the hospital because there is not enough care for them “out there.”

Unfortunately, many of these people will continue losing ground unless there are people to follow up with them and provide much needed encouragement and support.

This is a significant challenge for shelter service providers the world over.

There are a large number of people who need help — not just immediate, but also long-term.

Many people move around from shelter to shelter, making it hard for anyone to implement a transitional support strategy that will see them through for a long period of time and help transition into self-sufficient lifestyles.

Poor health always reduces the potential of getting off the streets and adds additional complexity to the difficult issue of addressing homelessness

Successful solutions will have to provide a strong connection between health services and helping people live to their full potential.

— Floyd Perras is the executive director of Siloam Mission.

SUN Article