Lupus Awareness Month: What You Need to Know
May is Lupus Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on a complex and often misunderstood disease that affects over 200,000 people in the U.S. every year. Lupus is an autoimmune condition, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and more. While anyone can develop lupus, it disproportionately impacts women of color—especially Black, Latina, and Asian women between the ages of 15 and 44. At TruCare HomeCare, we want our caregivers and the communities we serve to be informed, proactive, and supported.
Because lupus can affect so many parts of the body, symptoms can look different for everyone. Fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes (especially on the face), and sensitivity to the sun are common early warning signs. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms—especially if you have a family history—it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider. Free or low-cost checkups are often available through Philadelphia-area community health centers and some CVS MinuteClinics locations offer walk-in services with flexible pricing. Staying on top of blood pressure, cholesterol, and basic blood work can help catch autoimmune issues and related complications early.
For caregivers, especially those working long hours, prioritizing your own health can feel impossible—but it’s essential. Some lifestyle choices can make lupus symptoms worse or increase your risk if you’re predisposed. Try to avoid foods high in saturated fats (chicken, beef, pork), processed sugars, and too much sodium, which can strain the heart and kidneys—two areas lupus commonly affects. These saturated fat-heavy foods are often more accessible and aggressively marketed in low-income areas, where grocery stores are scarce and healthy food options are limited. Instead, focus on affordable nutrient-rich foods like canned beans, frozen vegetables, brown rice, oats, and leafy greens. Hydration, rest, and even brief walks during breaks can also make a difference in reducing inflammation and boosting your immune system.
Even small changes—like swapping one processed meal a week or taking a short daily walk—can add up to big improvements over time, proving that no step toward better health is too small to matter.
At TruCare, we know caregiving is a labor of love—and too often, it comes at the expense of the caregiver’s own wellbeing. This Lupus Awareness Month, we encourage all our team members and families to take a moment to care for themselves. Ask questions, get checked, and know that you’re not alone. Lupus may be invisible, but the support and care that we offer one another can be made very public. Together, we can raise awareness, push for better access to care, and make sure that no one fighting lupus does so in silence.
If you know of anyone that suffers from a chronic illness and needs homecare services in Philadelphia, Reading and surrounding counties, please do not hesistate to Contact Us Today. We’ll gladly accept a transfer of care from another agency and work diligently so that you and your family get care that they truly deserve.
