We understand that seeing your patient’s family hurting because of the situation can be extremely stressful. It feels like you’re helpless, and you can’t do anything to help them ease the pain they’re feeling. While support, understanding, and reassurance from the family can factor into your patient’s healing, below are some ways you can consider to encourage the family members to help in their recovery process.
- Communicate with the family
- Remember that a sick family member can affect the whole household. In fact, people having a loved one in the hospital may find the circumstances discouraging.
- The messaging platforms hospitals use allow family members to see reports and monitor their loved one’s progress. The implementation of these technologies (you can visit https://www.heymarket.com/sms-healthcare-solutions/ to know more about such healthcare solutions) might have enabled hospitals to align with the trend of delivering patient-centered care. These platforms have also aided communication about progress between patients/family members and healthcare professionals. Possibly, new technologies are attempting to put the interactive patient care definition into practice.
- As part of excellent medical care, regular communication with the family about the patient’s condition can help them adjust to the situation. It’s best if you strive hard to ensure that the family members understand their sick loved one’s prognosis.
- Make sure that you’re always available whenever a family member approaches you about a sick loved one. As much as possible, try to be honest and transparent when it comes to your medical assessments.
- In initiating a conversation with them, try to be friendly and informative. Also, use the opportunity to encourage them to be more persistent and supportive when it comes to their loved one’s recovery process.
- Keep in mind that frequent conversation with the family can be a way of helping your patient heal and recover.
Provide support to the family
- For instance, most patients have families who provide some level of care and support, which is essential in dealing with their healing process.
- However, you should also remember that family members who take care of their ill loved ones may also need support to share about how they’re feeling. For that reason, talking to them about it can be helpful in the long run.
- You should also take note that making them think that they’re supported during this unsettling time can be one of the best ways to encourage them to express their emotions. By doing so, you’re also helping them unload some burden – and as a result, you’ll be able to boost their morale making it more accessible and happier for them to assist in the patient’s recovery.
- For example, you can develop care plans that can maximize both the patient and the family members’ quality of life. Providing support may also mean recognizing the family’s value as a source of inspiration for them. Even small actions like sending flowers to the patients or spending time with them while they are at Royal Melbourne Hospital (or any other hospital) can make the patient’s family feel cherished.
- Remember that the family plays a valuable role in the process, helping their loved one cope and manage the illness. When the family feels supported, the recovery of a sick loved one will no longer be painful.
- Validate the family’s role in the healing process
- When someone in the household has been ill, it’s expected that family members have to perform specific roles to handle the situation appropriately. However, performing such functions may appear challenging, especially if these noble efforts are not usually validated.
- Due to these unfortunate circumstances, it’s important to acknowledge the family’s contribution in giving adequate health care to your patient. Bear in mind that the member’s level of reassurance can affect their well-being. In turn, their ability to provide a reasonable standard of care can impact the health of a sick loved one.
- That’s why you should make sure that family members are reassured about their expectations to offer care by appreciating their roles in the course of your patient’s recovery.
Identify signs of distress in the family members
- Take note that family members taking care of a sick loved one may face overwhelming emotional, physical and psychological burdens, which may influence their capacity to take part in the healing process.
- For instance, some families are often distracted about the situation, making it hard for them to adapt and recuperate. In cases like these, it’s vital to be mindful for any signs of distress experienced by the family.
- As much as possible, try to suggest some appropriate interventions which facilitate self-care for the benefit of all family members. You should also find time to stress the importance of having a quality life so that they’ll be able to help in your patient’s recovery efficiently.
- Try to let them understand that they’re not alone in this journey and for that reason, support and other social services should be made available to help them fight any signs of distress, which can have a significant impact in assisting in your patient’s healing.
Being part of the patient’s recovery can be tiresome for some family members. Without proper guidance and support, they’ll remain predisposed to some emotional disturbances such as stress, discomfort and even lack of motivation. By considering some of the tips mentioned above, we hope that you’ll be able to encourage your patient’s family to help in the patient’s recovery process.
Joanne Reed
Joanne Reed has been writing about law and business for almost a decade, and is currently writing her next big law project. She is an avid sports fan and loves watching games if she has free time.
