Today I want to place focus on how the illness of one member of a family affect the other members of the family.  Illness doesn’t just change the life of the patient – it changes the lives of everyone in the household.  These are a sampling of the comments I receive that describe how family member’s lives are changed by illness:

• Our daily routine is changed and we don’t have time for activities we enjoy.
• Waiting with the patient at the hospital is more exhausting than we thought it would be.
• I did not realize how much the patient did around the house until I had to do those chores.
• Caring for the patient while being an act of love is also very tiring.

Family members tell me some of the most appreciated actions of friends and extended family members are those actions that bring comfort and relief to the members of the household who have made significant adjustments to their routines to meet the needs of the patient.  While it is always important to remember the needs of the patient, it is equally important to remember the needs of other members of the household.