When a Loved One Is Sick

In the Hospital

Be calm and alert.  A patient going into the hospital may feel worried and helpless. By being calm and attentive, you can help everyone to relax and also try to avoid making mistakes. Make sure that admittance forms are filled out correctly.  Respect the patient's right to make informed medical decisions. If he is too ill to do so, honor his previously written wishes and the authority of his next of kin or health-care agent. 

Take initiative.  Do not be afraid to speak up. Your respectable appearance and good manners can  move the medical team to take greater interest in the patient and can even move them  to improve the quality of his care. In many hospitals, patients are seen by various doctors. You can help them by communicating what others on the staff have said.  You know the patient, so point out any changes you notice in his physical or mental state.

Show respect and gratitude.  Hospital staff often work under stressful  conditions. Treat them as you want to be treated.  (Matthew 7:12) Show respect for their training and experience, confidence in their ability, and gratitude for their efforts.  Such appreciation can encourage them to do their best. 

No one can avoid getting sick.  But through forethought and practical assistance, you can help a friend or a relative  make the best of a difficult situation. -Proverbs 17:17. 

Next time: Christ The Power of God

From the Awake! magazine