Living with a chronic health condition is a huge challenge, as is watching someone you love suffer. If you are looking for ways to show your support, you are in luck. Here are ways you can show you care during a time when you may otherwise feel helpless.
Learn about their condition.
Knowledge is power, and nowhere is this more evident than when dealing with health concerns. Take the time to learn about your loved ones' condition. This will help you better understand how you can help them, and, in some cases, may even lead you toward a new passion. If your loved one will need full-time care in the future, consider earning your nursing degree now. No matter what industry you are currently in, you can find an accredited school and affordable school online so you can care for them, earn your degree, and continue to work at the same time.
Help with shopping and household chores.
Many conditions, including endometriosis, IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, brain injuries, and lupus, cause pain and discomfort, according to the Québec Association for Chronic Pain. These issues can also cause fatigue. The combination can make it difficult to handle basic functions of day-to-day life, including grocery shopping and cleaning. While it might be difficult to say yes to help initially, your loved one will genuinely appreciate having healthy meals prepared for them without having to clean up afterward. You can also vacuum, dust, and do laundry once a week to keep these tedious tasks off your loved one’s plate.
Make home modifications.
Some people with chronic illnesses, such as those that affect mobility, may need minor to moderate home modifications so they can continue to live independently. A wheelchair ramp is one example that the power chair agency WSR explains can help an individual access their kitchen and bathroom and enter and exit their home more easily.
Schedule deliveries.
If you don’t live nearby, but you still want to help, consider having groceries delivered. Those with chronic health conditions may be on a tight budget, but they still have to eat whole and healthy foods to maintain their wellness. Amazon Fresh, Hello Fresh Market, and other online delivery services can help you keep the refrigerator stocked no matter where you are.
Offer to babysit.
When your friends/family have small children, their condition might make it more difficult to take care of their little ones 100% of the time. If you are close enough to the family, don’t shy away from offering to babysit the kids overnight. You can set up a beautiful bedroom so that your smallest guests have somewhere to feel comfortable when they’re over.
Pamper them.
People living with chronic pain may appreciate a periodic massage. According to Pathways, massage therapy can help reduce pain, ease tense muscles, and keep the lymphatic system properly drained.
Show compassion.
Perhaps most importantly, show compassion. Remember, you can’t know what someone is living through until you’ve been in their shoes. Hopefully, you will never have to walk those miles, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t empathize with their plight. Even if you can’t offer direct help, sometimes, a listening ear is all they need.
Helping someone with chronic pain is a labor of love. There are many ways that you can show you care, and it starts with learning about their condition. No matter what you do, from cooking and cleaning to babysitting, remember that compassion is key, and it’s what your loved one needs the most.
Thanks to guest author, Phillip Carr, of youryearlycheckup.com for the information in this post.
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