8 Tips for Caring For an Injured/Ill Relative

8 Tips for Caring For an Injured/Ill Relative

We all have our duties and responsibilities in life. Our existence can’t all be about what we’d like to do! And this is especially true when it comes to our families, and in particular our parents. If they’re injured or suffering from an illness, then it’s up to us to make sure they’re not enduring the recovery period all by themselves. But of course, this is easier said than done. Below, we take a look at a few tried and tested methods for ensuring that you and they get the most from your efforts.

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Get Organized

Everyone’s busy. We all have jobs, social engagements, homes to look after, and so on. As such, when you find that you need to look after someone close to you, it’s not as if you can just eat into all that spare time you already possess. If you’re like most people, there’s probably not much spare time available! This is why it’s important to get organized. You might need to move some things around so that you can be there for your loved one when they need you. You’ll also want to talk to your employer, and explain the situation — if they’re a good boss, they’ll happily make your schedule more flexible.

Work With Siblings

It’s unlikely that you’re the only person in your family who can help out your injured or ill loved one. And as such, this means that you won’t need to tackle the job of caring for another person all on your own. While aunties and uncles and other extended family members may help out, the bulk will be performed by those in the immediate family. You’ll want to communicate well so that everyone plays a role in helping out, though it’s worth bearing in mind that the workload doesn’t necessarily need to be distributed evenly (a person with more free time can take on more tasks, etc).

What are their Needs?

Sometimes, being the helper is more stressful than being injured or ill. You want to help, and you think you know everything that’s good for the person, and what they need to be doing. But this is rarely the case. They’re the ones living it, not you! As such, your first approach should be to check what is they want, be for themselves and from you. Don’t get too far ahead in the planning stages (when it comes to figuring out how you’re going to get them better) without first speaking openly with your relative about what they want.

Avoid Being Overbearing

As we said, sometimes being related to someone who’s unwell is worse than being the unwell person. They’re not going to enjoy their circumstances any more than you are, and there’s even less that they can do about it than you. If you’re feeling the strain, you can take a walk. They don’t have that option! It’s important to keep their needs at the forefront of your mind. Don’t become overbearing. They need their space, just like you do. A good way to keep your distance, yet still be close, is to encourage them to text you when they need something. When they need their space, you’ll be able to be in the next room, just a few seconds walk away when they need something.

The Financial Angle

You’d like to think that your relative would be able to focus solely on getting their body back to full health. Alas, this isn’t always the case. Being injured or ill can be stressful, and often that stress isn’t even directly related to what’s wrong with them. Take the financial costs of being unwell, for example, or the inability to work. Both of these things can make it more difficult for your loved one to focus on getting better. That’s why it’s important to manage the financial aspect of being injured or ill. Take control of their spending for a little while, and make sure there’s not more going out than there is coming in. It’s also possible that they are entitled to financial compensation, as in the case of emergency room mistakes, or if they were involved in a work- or traffic-related incident that wasn’t their fault. Don’t let their mind become preoccupied with money worries, when they should be focused on getting better.

Taking Breaks

Because you’re a caring relative, you’ll want to do as much as you can for your loved one. It’s important, however, that you don’t overdo it. If you dedicate too much of your time to looking after someone else, then all that’ll happen is you’ll begin to burn out, which will be no good for anyone! Helping someone get better is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure that you’re setting some time each day just to yourself. This can involve going for a walk, engaging in one of your hobbies, or simply taking the evening to take a bath, read a book, and relax.

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Bring the Fun

Recovering from an illness or injury is serious, sure, but not all the time. You and your relative will find the whole arrangement much more enjoyable if you can find ways to make it fun! Playing board games, movie nights, and the like we all make the process more palatable.

Talk it Out

It can be pretty full-on, taking care of a loved one, and especially if you don’t normally spend that much time with them. You might suddenly find that you’ve completely left your regular life behind, and now find yourself in this new environment. To help preserve your sanity, it’s important that you’re finding ways to release the tension. Talking the issue through with friends, for instance, will help on two levels — it’ll help you to talk through your emotions, and will also reconnect you with your regular life.

Conclusion

We sometimes find ourselves in situations we’d rather not be in. Looking after a relative is one such situation. It’s just something that we need to do, however, if we’re going to be good family members!

DISCLAIMER: This post is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.