Some of the worst news you can receive is learning about a loved one being diagnosed with an advanced illness. When you learn of this, you don’t know how much pain and suffering your loved one will go through, or even if they’ll live through the ordeal. However, during this tough time, it is extremely important that you be there to support your loved one in the fight against their illness. Whether it be visiting them in Providence Hospital Washington D.C, driving them to doctor’s appointments, or just spending time with them, it’s extremely important that you make their fight against their illness as easy as possible. So what are the most important and effective things to do to help out an ill loved one? Here’s how to support a loved one with an advanced illness.
Be There for Them
One of the most important things you can do for a loved one struggling with an advanced illness is to simply be there for them. During this time, you should be spending time with them, enjoying activities that you usually do together. These activities can be things like listening to your favorite songs, watching your favorite T.V shows, and playing your favorite games. Spending time with loved ones while they’re struggling with an advanced illness can be a great way to show you care and ease their pain. Fighting an advanced illness is an extremely tiring task, especially if you have to fight it alone. Ensure that your loved one knows that they have your support by being there for them and spending time with them.
Put Them First
Although you may be struggling with the fact that your loved one has an advanced illness, your loved one still needs your support. If the news and treatment of an advanced illness wrecks you emotionally, imagine how it affects your loved one. Due to the severe emotional trauma of being diagnosed with an advanced illness, you should put your loved one first. How they want to approach treatment options and do other things should be solely up to them. Yes, you and other people may be able to provide input and advice, but the final decision comes down to your loved one. Standing back and putting your loved one’s wishes first may be difficult due to your own beliefs and emotions, but your loved one’s desires should always come first. Even when the time comes where your loved medically cannot make decisions for themselves, you should still try to put things and perspective and decide how they normally would. Fighting an advanced illness is hard for the whole family, but during these trying times, you should always try to ensure that your loved one’s wishes and desires are met.
Cherish Old Memories
During the fight with an advanced illness, it’s important to sit down and cherish old memories with your loved one. Talking about and reliving old memories that you share can be a great way to lift their spirits and bring closure to yourself. Things like old photo albums, family recipes, and home videos can be a fantastic way to revisit happy memories. You and your loved one likely shared many great memories together and cherishing these memories with them while you still can is a great way to make both of you happy.
Work on Final Affairs
Many people don’t like to work on final affairs before their loved one is gone, but it is necessary. It’s no secret that an advanced illness can be fatal, and as a result, final affairs need to be in order. You need to sit down with your loved one and be sure that they know this. Important topics, such as the funeral need to be brought up, as well as any financial and legal paperwork. Documents like your loved one’s will are extremely important to their legacy, and as a result, they need to be updated to reflect their wishes. Final affairs are an extremely sensitive topic, especially during the fight with an advanced illness. However, getting them in order is extremely important, so it is vital that you sit down with your loved one and work everything out.
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