For people facing health conditions, rehabilitation plays a vital role in the recovery process. However rehabilitation has multiple facets and along with appropriate medical intervention, therapy, and nutrition, there is one more aspect that undoubtedly plays a pivotal role. It is the family. The family’s involvement can significantly influence the speed and quality of the recovery process.
Sharada Joshi is a 34-year-old technical writer from Bengaluru. She recalls when her father was in rehab after hip replacement surgery. There were occasions when the family members were busy and couldn’t be with him all the time. That lack of attention or presence did affect his mood and consequently, the motivation and eagerness to participate in the treatment as noticed by his physiotherapist.
A study from Intermountain Medical Center, published in the January issue of the American Journal of Critical Care, reveals that the presence of family and friends at the patient’s bedside helps on a medical and human level. The study interviewed patients and nurses before and after the change. The results showed significantly improved family, patient, and staff satisfaction, with no increased risk of infection or disease.
Let us explore further why the proximity of the family is so important.
Emotional Support: The very foundation of ‘recovery’ lies probably in emotional support.
One of the most important roles of family members is this support through encouragement. The process of healing after an injury or an illness can be very challenging and exhausting and having family members around means getting support in the form of kind words and tolerance. This encourages the patient and reduces anxiety; depression and feelings of being alone which are likely to occur during the rehabilitation process.
Practical Assistance: Besides, the emotional support, the family members help with practicalities that are vital in day-to-day life. This may involve helping the person in their daily chores like moving around, cooking and eating, administering and dispensing medications, and making appointments. For people with reduced physical mobility or even low cognitive ability, these everyday tasks are very challenging. The involvement of other family members in taking up these tasks can bring about a lot of relief to the patient as well as ensure that they cooperate well with the rehabilitation process.
Advocacy and Communication: Family members also have a vital role in helping the patient to sort out their healthcare needs. They can advocate for the patient, and ensure that the patient’s needs and wishes are well conveyed to the healthcare provider and met. It may involve the family asking the right questions and clarifying the treatment plan for the benefit of the patient so that it is well understood and coordinated.
Encouraging Independence: During rehab, one needs to focus not only on supporting their loved ones but also on encouraging them to become more independent and self-sufficient gradually. It is crucial to understand that rehabilitation is a process to help the person start living a normal life and not make them dependent on the assistance that is being provided. This is important for the person to get back into their routine with confidence and is a vital aspect of recovery.
Educating and Empowering: Rehabilitation is a crucial process and entails constructive support from extended family members who know the process. Enhancing their knowledge of the benefits and challenges of the rehabilitative process regarding the ailment can help them prep the person beforehand, ensure their cooperation, and speed the recovery process.
Building a Supportive Environment: Family members need to understand that the environment around an ailing person matters considerably for successful rehabilitation.
It needs to be calming, pleasant, and very reassuring to aid the healing process
This can be done by family members by creating a good mood, arranging the physical environment in a way that is beneficial for the patient, and matching their with that of the person to make them feel comfortable and encouraged and enhance the recovery process.
Rehabilitation can be a smooth process if the healthcare team and the family are on the same page. The family is an invaluable asset in offering emotional and physical support, advocating on behalf of the individuals to ensure that rights are not infringed and at the same time motivating the individuals to be independent and providing an environment that facilitates independence. Their engagement can contribute substantially to the treatment outcome and aid in quicker recovery.
