Patient Care Tips
What To Do When Somebody You Love Gets Sick
Everybody reacts to getting sick in different ways. For some, it’s just another part of life, and their spirits remain otherwise unchanged. For others, it can be a real concern and get them down. As an onlooker, it’s something that’s often difficult to deal with. Often it seems as if there’s nothing you can do to make the situation better for them, especially if their illness is debilitating and stopping them from living the life that they want.
Now it is on you and this can all take its toll on you. Often when a loved one is sick, your own health can deteriorate with all the stress. It’s a good idea, therefore, to take a bit of time out to prepare yourself for when somebody you love gets sick.
• Focus On Your Routine
The daily routine is usually something that is in the background – a kind of structure to the day that we rarely think about in any conscious way. But in times of crisis, routines can be real lifesavers. Unfortunately, when we’re stressed, and a loved one is sick, routines can go out the window. Even though we think we’re doing all we can to care for a sick loved one, letting go of routine can lead us to make poor choices.
Suppose, for instance, you stop eating good food. Before long, your body will start to suffer, and you’ll be unable to be as supportive as you normally would be. Or if you’re not getting enough sleep, you might put your loved one at risk during the drive between your home and the hospital.
• Find Support
Looking after an older relative can be a physical and emotional struggle. That’s why it’s a good idea to seek support whenever you can. Senior in home care is one way that you could reduce the burden that you’re experiencing, thanks to having an extra pair of hands to help with basic care tasks. Plus, sometimes it’s nice to let somebody else take over for a while so that you can enjoy yourself and enjoy your favorite activities.
• Look For Hope
People are diagnosed with serious illnesses at a regular clip. Often there’s little reason to hope, especially when it involved older people. It’s worth noting, however, that there are reasons to hope and reasons not to despair. Hope can come from the fact that people do recover from illnesses in some circumstances.
• Get Involved In Your Loved One’s Treatment
Often one of the worries that people have when a person they love gets sick is what their treatment involves. Is it the best option? Are there other treatments out there? What stage are they at in their treatment? What are the side effects? And what do the doctors think will be the likely outcome?
Being involved in your loved one’s treatment helps to provide you with a bird’s eye view of the situation and allows you to monitor their progress. So, it is on you to look out for warning signs that the treatment isn’t working and to use your knowledge to press for a better solution.
Don’t forget to take good care of yourself, if you aren’t feeling well and strong yourself, how could you be a caring caregiver for others?
Thanks a lot for your time!
Klaudia