I Have Migraine Disease: Tips on Finding the Best Place to Live

We all must live somewhere. When I was younger, I never thought about healthcare dictating where I would live. I have been in central Texas for over 20 years and like it. There are always factors that come into play when picking where we want to live, temporarily or permanently. Having chronic illness can make it hard to find a city that works well for you. Some questions below are important for those with chronic healthcare needs.

Do I have access to providers I need?

When I speak of access, that can include many factors. Everyone will have to decide for themselves what they are looking for. There are some common things, I believe, are important. Access can include location, distance, type of provider, and coverage.

• Location: Are they in this state/city? In an ideal situation, I would prefer all providers to be in the city that I live in. If not, as close to my home, as possible.
• Distance: How far away are they? Distance and location go hand-in-hand. With chronic illness, who wants to be in a vehicle for an extended amount of time? I would like to travel no more than 30 mins to an hour. I do have one doctor who is about 3 hours away currently. My neurologist though, is only 30 minutes from me.
• Type of Provider: Are there specialist? When thinking about a city, it is important to note how many specialists in that category, are available. If there is only one migraine specialist, in your area, it will be an extremely long wait for follow-ups.
• Coverage: Will my insurance cover the provider? I have seen friends, especially those with state insurance, who could not find any approved providers locally. You may have to travel to other cities due to there being no covered providers in your city.

How is the environment here?

Migraine, along with other chronic illnesses, can be affected by the environment. When exploring where you want to live, checking out facts about the climate are helpful. Below, you will see some factors to consider.

• Temperature: Is it too hot/cold? Having migraine disease can make it difficult to be in areas where there are higher temperatures. Personally, heat is the more problematic for me. I do much better in cold weather.
• Weather Conditions: Are there a lot of changes? Living in an area in which the weather is unstable may prove problematic. Some weather issues are: barometric pressure changes, storms-tornados, hurricanes, wind, and rain. If you are like me, any change in the weather can trigger a migraine.

How are the schools?

One last thing to take into consideration is the school system. If you have school-aged children with migraine, or another health condition, researching the school district, is important. Not all schools or districts, are equal when it comes to what is provided.

• Programs: Do they offer any special programs? Your child may qualify for certain programs based on the condition. They may need a 504 plan (for accommodations) or an IEP (Individual Education Plan). My local district also offers TLC (Therapeutic Learning Classroom), PBS (Positive Behavior Support), inclusion classes, therapy, and counseling, to those who qualify.
• Size: How many students are in the district? I grew up in a small town where everyone knows everybody. In my opinion, schools with a lower number of children may be better for some. These schools can give more personalized attention to the kids in the class. On the other hand, smaller districts may not have as many services as the larger ones.
• Compliments/Complaints: What do the reviews say about the superintendent, staff, and district as a whole? If you know people who work there, or, have children in this district, ask them how it is. Word of mouth is a great way to find out about the schools.

No matter the condition, we all must evaluate where the best place for us is. No one place will be perfect, but weighing the pros and cons can help narrow it down.

Do you have any tips? What helped you decide where you currently live?