Staying Connected Through Illness and Improving Wellness

80% of internet users have looked online for information about health topics such as a specific disease or treatment. This translates to 59% of all adults.

As we age, our social circles tend to trend downward and become smaller and smaller for various reasons, yet our need for socialization increases. By and large, the need for socialization is rooted in the inherent need for support. Our circles of support become rather diverse over time and often come in the form of friends, families, church, caregivers, etc. As individuals we begin to lose our family to their families, we become caregivers for our parents or spouses, our friends move on and our aging bodies begin to restrict our ability to engage in the development of new circles - many turn to both physical as well as virtual support groups for companionship, empathy and information.
Baby boomers, caregivers and the aging population as a whole, aren't sitting still and allowing this dynamic to slow them down. In fact, according to a media management company - comScore, among older people who went online last year, the number visiting social network sites grew almost as fast as the overall rate of Internet use among that group. This demographic has the time and an interest in being connected. Why? Well, many suffer from chronic illnesses and are in search of data and support groups, while others want to feel a part of a community. Others just want a means by which to keep their minds active and a place to journal their thoughts. In fact, some research suggests that loneliness can hasten conditions like dementia and that online social connections may help delay this illness by keeping the mind active. The social life of health information is robust. The online conversation about health is being driven forward by two forces: 1) the availability of social tools and 2) the motivation, especially among people living with chronic conditions, to connect with each other. (http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1989/health-care-online-social-network-users)
Individuals need a way to keep the mind lively, to journal their legacy along with daily activities and the sense of support in coping with the day to day challenges associated with the aging process, can be primary drivers. There are numerous sites enabling the connection of family and friends as a means of providing updates on a medical procedure or overall wellbeing following a surgical event. Few sites, however, capture the daily struggles of coping with a condition with anonymity and international reach to those who share your condition and want to show support. Why is this important? Most begin to feel guilty sharing the details of their condition(s) with family members/friends and would rather connect with those who have empathy and understanding and seek the same level of support. As much as our families love us, they can never truly grasp the challenge without having personally lived it.
A networking site should be dedicated to the needs of all types of users including individual patients, caregivers, family members and advocates. It should promote the importance of keeping a diary of life-changing experiences and the significance of engaging in behaviors and activities which promote health, mental wellness and the self-management of chronic conditions.
TreatmentDiaries.com was inspired by real stories of people struggling with chronic conditions and in desperate need of support. The goal is to connect those facing similar circumstances and facilitate the sharing of valuable information and support at every stage of an illness through wellness. Finding and sharing genuine information and experiences is a powerful thing, and this tool gives people the opportunity to do just that.