If you have a loved one who is always sick, maybe they have a serious illness that has taken over a lot of their life, or they have a chronic health issue that has caused them no end of problems, then it can be hard to see them that way all the time.
Illness can strike anyone at any point, and if you are currently faced with a sick person in your family or friend group, then it is essential that you know how to deal with them to not only be their support system but to help their mental health as well.
What Supporting Your Loved One Can Do
It should be a no-brainer when it comes to the reasons why you should be supporting an ill family member or one of your closest friends in their time of need, but it is important to understand what that can do for them when they feel like they have nowhere to turn.
Showing up for your friends and family is incredibly important all the time, they need to know that they have people there who want to be with them and who will get them through the roughness they feel.
Illness can make people feel isolated and cause major mental health concerns such as suicidal thoughts, depression, serious anxiety, and so on.
Just knowing that you aren’t going anywhere and you are willing to be there for them, whether you take them to their doctor’s appointments, help them find imaging centers for tests by searching for ‘radiology near me in East Brunswick, NJ‘ or something similar on the internet, or take them shopping for medical supplies, groceries, and other important necessities, all of it adds up.
Keep in mind that it can be especially difficult for your family member if they are dealing with a terminal illness like cancer and are fearful that their days on earth are limited. In such cases, having the unconditional support and love of their loved ones can be crucial. Apart from being there for them and helping them with their everyday life, you could also make them feel special by giving them meaningful gifts. You could explore Care Packages For Cancer Patients to give as a gift. Or, if their health allows, consider taking them to their favourite places to lift their spirits. Remember, small things can make a big difference and can bring immense comfort to someone going through a challenging time. Your presence and support are invaluable during their journey.
You may not know right now what the future holds for them, they may be able to get through this illness or it could go on for years and years, all you can do is be there for them right here and right now, letting them know that you are by their side.
How to Deal With Someone Who is Always Sick
Being the emotional support for someone can be a pretty big job, so if you know that other family members and friends can chip in and help out, then you all will be able to deal with what is going on and work towards a positive goal.
Take Care of Them
When someone is consistently unwell or grappling with a chronic illness, providing care becomes a paramount consideration. However, the ongoing demands of caregiving, especially when coupled with the challenges of maintaining one’s own daily schedule, can feel overwhelming. In such circumstances, opting for home care for chronic illness management can emerge as a viable and compassionate solution.
Home care for chronic illnesses involves professional healthcare providers delivering personalized assistance within the comfort of the individual’s home. This not only ensures a familiar and supportive environment but also alleviates the logistical challenges that may arise when managing healthcare away from home. Trained caregivers can administer medical treatments, monitor symptoms, and offer emotional support, all while allowing family members to maintain their routines and responsibilities.
The advantages of home care extend beyond physical well-being, encompassing emotional and psychological support for both the individual with the chronic illness and their family. It promotes a sense of autonomy, dignity, and familiarity, which can significantly contribute to the overall quality of life for the person receiving care.
Furthermore, home care services can be tailored to the specific needs of the individual, providing a flexible and personalized approach to chronic illness management. This option not only ensures the well-being of the person dealing with the illness but also allows family members to strike a balance between caregiving responsibilities and their own commitments.
Do What They Need And Don’t Take Over
You probably think that you know exactly what they need. You have read some things about their illness and you are aware of what they are going through because you have read about what others with similar issues have gone through.
Stop.
Just because you have read about it does not mean you know exactly what they need. An individual with a serious illness or a chronic health issue will have their own needs and wants when it comes to managing their pain and sickness.
You can get a general idea of what they may want, but you need to speak to them first to alleviate any stress that can come from this.
They feel anxious enough as it is having to deal with this on a daily basis, so take some time, maybe a few hours to read up on what they are going through, then, go and speak to them about what you have read and what they need.
Listen to what they are asking and don’t try and override it.
Your loved one is going to need different things from you over the course of their illness, making assumptions is not going to be helpful, so have open communication about what they want and what you can do for them so you both are on the same page.
Practice Self Care For Yourself As Well
Serious illness does not just affect the individual going through it, those that are helping them are going to feel sad, angry, and upset too.
Don’t hide that away and tell yourself that you don’t deserve to have your feelings as well, this is not going to help you in the long run and it certainly isn’t going to help them if you come across as miserable and upset a lot of the time when you are with them.
Take Some Sick Leave
If you are feeling that it is too much and you do need to take some time away from your regular day to day to not only help your loved one but yourself as well, then speak to your boss about taking some sick leave/sick days so you can have that breather and focus on the person you are looking after.
If you are the primary caregiver for them at this moment, then you shouldn’t come across any barriers with this as your boss should be aware of what you need to do and your duties, so speak to them about what is going on and make a plan.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish. You cannot do your best if you are feeling your worst.
Your Plans May Not Always Go The Way You Want Them To
You may have a doctor’s appointment set up for the day or your loved one will have some phone calls to deal with (if they physically can’t go in), however, if they are having a really bad day with their illness and they can’t get out of bed or they feel too unwell, then these plans are going to change.
A lot of the time, a sick person is unable to definitively say yes to things, they can only say that it is their plan that they can do stuff but they really don’t know.
This can make them very upset as they are incredibly aware that they cannot do the same things that they used to do.
If plans change at the last moment, all you need to do is call up the places they were meant to go and let them know that you have to reschedule.
With the doctors, this is very normal and they are aware that patients will go through this, in other places that were more for a social visit they may be less understanding, but you just have to explain what’s going on.
It can’t be changed and these things happen but it can make the person who is unwell feel sad and upset about what is going on with them. All you can do is tell them that it is okay and they are not the problem.
Cheering Them Up Doesn’t Always Happen
A cheery smile and a joke can make people feel brighter and good about themselves, and sometimes with sick people, this can help them by giving them a little jolt of happiness, however, on their worst days jokes don’t always work, and your efforts may not be met with their previous reactions.
Sometimes, the words that you use don’t actually cheer the person up, it can make them feel upset as what you say could be downgrading their feelings and their symptoms.
Telling people a few months later who have just been given serious news about their illness that you “hope they feel better now” does not make them feel good or any better about their health.
They are facing it every day, and if you are saying “Cheer up” or “So when will you be better?” you are not helping them one bit and will make them feel like they are on a timeline to be and feel better that suits your own timeline.
If they feel like you are doing toxic positivity, then they are going to pull away from you and seek emotional support somewhere else or retreat into themselves as you clearly are not understanding what they have to deal with.
Be Prepared to See a Difference in Who They Are
When a person close to you gets sick with a chronic illness like diabetes or dementia, you’re going to see a gradual difference in them.
People who are ill a lot of the time can become annoyed easily and lash out in anger. Sometimes they might even need professional care from a senior living facility, something which you on your own may not be able to provide. You can find out more about senior living here and how exactly they take care of aging and chronically ill patients.
Whilst dealing with your loved one as they change can be upsetting, it comes with the territory and despite the fact that you may be worried, maintaining patience with them can help them see what they are doing and how you both can support each other.
You are going to hit a roadblock with them sometimes and it can be harsh to see who they have become, but, you need to remember that they are still them, just altered, and even though changes happen with sickness you still love them.
Conclusion
Knowing how to deal with someone who is sick a lot of the time is not easy, you will go through many ups and downs together but the most important thing is to stand by them through these difficult times and let them know that you are going to be there for them as much as they need you.