Supporting a Family Member With Illness

Illness within your family can be difficult for both the person who is ill and the people caring for them. Many individuals struggle to know how they can help a family member who is ill and in what ways they can offer their support. If you are struggling to know how to care for a loved one, here is a comprehensive guide to the best ways to support someone who is ill.

• Get Professional Help and Care

Sometimes, it can be difficult to support a loved one suffering from illness alone, and that is why you should do your best to help find them the best care possible for their illness. Specialist clinics can help to care for your loved one by offering the best in treatment and pastoral care, as well as offering you advice and support on how best to care for the individual patient. At westsiderenal.com.au, their set of clinics help to support patients with a wide range of kidney problems with compassionate and advanced medical care.

• Offering to Help With Daily Tasks

Many people suffering from an illness will not want you to perform tasks without asking them, and so you should ask your family member if you can help with any daily tasks. These involve simple tasks which they may not be able to manage, such as sorting the post, getting groceries, helping to make dinner, walking the dog, or visiting the bank. By helping them to achieve these, you will ensure that they can focus on their recovery and that you can actively support them in a way that suits them.

• Giving Your Time and Attention

Giving your time and attention to a family member suffering from illness, whether physical or mental health issues, is one of the most important things that you can do to show that you care and support them through the illness. You should speak to your family about sorting out a rota for the care of your relative or organising a timetable which can help you work around your other commitments while ensuring that there is always someone there to support your relative if need be. In other cases, you should speak to your manager and ask if it is possible to reduce your hours or work remotely for the interim until they are better.

• Offering a Listening Ear

Having a serious illness can be a serious strain on your relative’s mental health, and can cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. To help reduce this, you should let them know that you are always available to provide a listening ear and give them your phone number which they can contact whenever they need to. By offering a listening ear, you will enable to provide your relative with support that allows them to speak about their emotions with someone they trust.

• Involving them in Your Life

Your family member may start to be isolated if they are unable to participate in their normal activities. Then, you should try to make sure that they are included by taking them out with you if they feel up to, or by sharing your life events through devices such as photographs or even video calls so that they can actively participate.