This section contains helpful information and resources for people living with a long-term health condition.
Minding your long-term health condition during COVID-19
People living with a long-term health condition may be more at risk of serious illness if they get coronavirus and need to take extra care to protect themselves. It is really important that they continue to manage their long-term health condition.
You can download our information leaflet on minding your long-term health condition during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tips for self-managing your health when living with a long-term health condition
There are many things that you can do to help self-manage your health when living with a long-term health condition. For further information download our information leaflet.
Resources and supports for adults with asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart conditions and stroke during COVID-19
This directory is for people living with long-term health conditions. It aims to signpost people to reliable information and services. It also provides information on how to access these supports.
Asthma
Asthma Action Plan
An Asthma Action Plan contains information you need to keep your asthma under control.
Read more about managing your asthma
Asthma Advice Line
The Asthma Society of Ireland’s Asthma Advice line is a free call-back service that is available to people with asthma and their parents or carers.
Freephone: 1800 44 54 64
Call the freephone number between Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The Asthma Ireland reception staff will arrange a respiratory nurse to call back at a time that suits you. The service operates during the day, at evening time and over weekends.
You can also email nurse@asthma.ie or text ‘asthma’ to 086 059 0132.
Read more about asthma on HSE.ie and asthma.ie
COPD
Read more about treating and managing your COPD
COPD Communication Card
Your COPD communication card has information about your COPD and an action plan for you to follow.
Your healthcare professional may give you this. Your COPD Communication Card can help you recognise and manage a flare-up.
COPD Self-management Plan
This COPD self-care plan will help you to manage your condition when you are well, and to be aware of your symptoms so that you know what to do in the event of a flare-up.
Read more about managing your COPD
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Education Support Programme through Video
The video-based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Education Support Programme has14 videos. They cover a range of topics including breathing exercises, oxygen therapy, nutrition and psychological supports. The videos also cover self-management, coping skills for people living with a chronic disease and medication management.
Spirometry
Spirometry is a test used to diagnose and monitor lung conditions including:
- asthma
- COPD
- cystic fibrosis
- pulmonary fibrosis
You'll breathe into a small device called a spirometer. A spirometer measures how well air moves in and out of your lungs during forced breathing.
Read more about spirometry
COPD Advice Line
The COPD Adviceline is a Freephone service for people who want to learn more about COPD, or, who would like to discuss their COPD with a respiratory nurse.
This service is available to everyone with COPD, family members and carers of people with COPD as well as healthcare professionals who support people with COPD.
Call the free COPD Adviceline on 1800 83 21 46 to book a free telephone consultation with a COPD nurse. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
COPD Support Ireland Peer Support Groups
The purpose of these groups is to support and provide information to those who are living with COPD or who have a family member living with COPD.
Read more information on the COPD Support Groups and exercise classes in your area
Read more about COPD supports
Email: support@copd.ie
Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes can be a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood glucose (blood sugar) level to become too high.
Read more information on type 2 diabetes and what you can do to lead a healthy life
Diabetes Support Courses
Completing a diabetes support course is recommended as part of your treatment. These free courses can help you look after your diabetes and your health.
The courses have a lot of up to date information about many aspects of treating and living with diabetes. You will also meet other people with diabetes.
Book your free place on a course
Foot care
Diabetes can cause problems with your feet. It can affect the nerve endings and blood supply to your feet over time. You may not notice this happening.
The best way to prevent this is to keep your blood glucose to the level recommended by your GP and examine your feet every day.
Read more about diabetes and foot care
Foot care information leaflets
Read our series of foot care information leaflets
Diabetes Ireland Support Groups
Diabetes Ireland have many local support groups and branches across Ireland.
Joining a local support group is a great way to meet people from your locality living with diabetes in a relaxed and informal setting.
Find a local support group in your area
Heart Failure
Heart Failure Self-management Plan
Your Heart Failure Self-management Plan will help you manage your condition. It is a guide to managing your heart failure when you are well and how to recognise if you are not so well. It also shows you what to do in the event of a flare-up.
Heart failure traffic light guide - The Heartbeat trust (PDF, 176 KB, 2 pages)
Fluid Heart Tracker App
Monitoring your weight each day is one way to identify if heart failure is getting worse or if changes to medication are required to control extra fluid.
The Fluid Heart Tracker App helps you monitor possible fluid retention by capturing your weight each day. The app removes the need for written weight logs and ensures you are alerted when your weight increases by more than two kilograms (approxim 4lbs) in a 7-day period, which can be a sign of worsening heart failure.
More information can be found on the Irish Heart Foundation website
Heart Support Network - Irish Heart Foundation
The Irish Heart Foundation provides a range of support services to people with heart conditions and their families.
These supports include:
- Heart Support Network Facebook page – run by experienced moderators where patients and their families can access weekday exercise, Facebook live information sessions on self-management and real time peer support
- Monthly online information meetings with expert guest speakers and peer support
- Nurse support line – Phone 01 6685001, Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm
- Monthly newsletters
- Heart Failure Webpage – a specific page on the Irish Heart Foundation website where you will find videos on Self-Management, a Heart Failure Podcast series, Fluid Heart Tracker App and general information on heart health
Phone: 01 6685001
Email: heartservices@irishheart.ie
Read more about heart failure support
Heart Link West – Croí
Croí provides a range of support services to people with heart conditions and their families.
Some of these supports include:
- Heartlink West - a free telephone helpline available for those living with, or affected by, heart disease and stroke. This service is operated by Cardiac Nurse Specialists. It is available weekdays from 9am to 5:30pm. Call 091 544310 or email: healthteam@croi.ie
- Heartlink West Virtual Chats takes place every Thursday at 11am on Zoom. Find more information on the topics and how to register
- Croí Connects - Croí Connects are a series of videos recorded with medical experts. These sessions answer questions that patients have asked about heart disease, stroke and lots more.
- Exercise videos - The Croí Physiotherapy and Physical Activity Team have created a series of exercise videos If you are new to exercise or if you have special health considerations, consult your healthcare professional before performing any exercise
- Exercise classes - your healthcare professional can refer you for a fitness assessment through healthteam@croi.ie, to decide which online programme suits your needs.
- Zoom training - by learning how to use Zoom, you can access many other Croí resources. These Zoom training classes take place every Wednesday at 12pm.
Heart Failure Information
Find more information and resources to help you manage Heart Failure:
Minding your long-term health condition videos
These short videos provide practical and clear information to support people to self-manage and to stay well.
These videos focus on:
Support Materials
Tips on How to Stay Physically Active Infographic ( PDF, size 3.45 MB 1 page)
Living Well Programme
Living Well is a free group self-management programme. It supports people to develop the skills which help them to live well with their long-term health condition.
Read about the Living Well Programme
