The Role of Family in Patient Care

When a serious illness or disability strikes an individual, the family as a whole is impacted by the disease process and the entire healthcare experience. Patients and families have different needs for education and counseling. Since each person in a family plays a specific role that is part of the family’s daily functioning, the illness of one family member disrupts the entire family. When a family member becomes ill, other family members must alter their lifestyles and take on some of the functions of the sick person’s role, which in turn affects their own normal role and duties.

The family can help the patient adapt to their illness and maintain and enhance their psychological well-being through the following actions:

1. Continuous Care and Presence: The patient needs medication, hygiene, and psychological rehabilitation care, all of which cannot be managed by one person alone. It is best if all family members participate in this care as much as possible, with care responsibilities divided among them based on their conditions.

2. Helping the Patient Accept Their Illness: With the reduction and cessation of delusional thoughts, the patient can learn these lessons. For this purpose, the family should learn the necessary training themselves and patiently convey information about the illness to the patient at appropriate times. One such opportunity is when the patient inquires about the reason for taking medication, the name of the illness, or the cause of their symptoms. At this moment, the family can add to the patient’s knowledge with a short response. It is best to avoid giving lectures, advice, or too much information in a short time.

3. Instilling Hope in the Patient: Reminding the patient of the effects of treatment, the elimination of symptoms, and the improvement in efficiency and social relations that follow treatment can encourage the patient to continue with their treatment. Help the patient record their symptoms, medication side effects, and any changes in their mood. This attention makes the patient more aware of their illness and encourages them to share their experiences with the family and their treating physician.

4. Establishing a Daily Routine and Preventing Major and Unpredictable Changes: Help the patient establish a daily routine, such as sleep schedules, assisting with household shopping, helping with household chores, and setting aside personal time during the day for exercise and walking.

5. Family Supervision of Regular Medication Intake: Increasing the patient’s awareness of their illness will enhance their cooperation in taking medications regularly. Nonetheless, remote or close supervision (depending on the patient’s level of cooperation) is very important.

Important Notes for Family Support

– Help the patient participate in appropriate recreational and social activities. This includes walking in a nearby park, attending religious sessions and festivals, participating in educational sessions related to the illness, and attending family gatherings. During these sessions, it is better to highlight and support the patient’s appropriate and beneficial behaviors. Be consistent in implementing the planned programs.

– Divide responsibilities among other family members. Speak slowly, clearly, and calmly to the patient. Use short sentences.

– Avoid criticism and sarcastic remarks. Praise and encourage the patient for positive behaviors, no matter how small. Participate in difficult tasks with the patient. Help the patient gain more independence. Assign light duties to them and seek their opinion before assigning tasks. After completing the tasks, praise them in front of other family members.

– Do not neglect your own physical and mental health and that of other family members.

To provide adequate support and care for the patient, other family members need to be healthy, happy, and energetic. Therefore, other family members should also engage in recreational activities, exercise, and enjoy their personal leisure time. The healthier and more cheerful the family members are, the more effectively they can care for the patient.