When a friend or loved one is dealing with an illness, it’s a great time to show them how important they are to you by finding ways to help and comfort them. Whether your friend is laid up with a minor illness or is dealing with something long-term, these are the times your friends rely on you to act as their support. Receiving a creative gift or some much-needed attention and comfort can spell the difference between a good day and a bad day for someone dealing with an illness.
For a Friend Dealing with a Minor Illness
When dealing with the flu or a cold, it can be hard to keep up with the little tasks of daily life and to find ways to stay comfortable. To help out a friend stuck at home with a fever, a headache, or something like that, find creative ways to offer your help:
- Bring over things that might make them feel better: chicken soup and Gatorade for the flu, pain killer for aches and pains, ginger tea for nausea, mint tea for sore throats, etc. Search online for natural cures for minor ailments and look around at the drug store or ask the pharmacist for help with choosing good over-the-counter products.
- Offer to take them to the doctor if they need help going or to pick up their prescriptions if they are unable to go on their own.
- Offer to help them with the chores they might not be able to do: pick up the kids from school and fix them some dinner, take the dog for a walk, do the dishes or laundry, etc.
- Spend time with them! If your friend is up to it, cheer them up with a visit. Bring over chocolate, silly movies, old pictures. Keeping your friend happy and laughing is a great way to help them start to feel better.
- Check in with them until they are back on their feet. Small illnesses can get in the way for a while, so your friend may appreciate help in keeping up with their daily chores or work.
For a Friend Dealing with a More Serious Illness
Serious illnesses cause people all kinds of upset and problems in their daily lives. And while illnesses can be trying on relationships and friendships, the most important thing you can do for a very sick friend dealing with the shock or sadness of a sudden illness or serious diagnosis is to be there for them and support them, but also give them their space when they need it.
To be of even more help to your friend, since we all know that medical issues are not cheap, consider setting up a medical fund for them. Plumfund is a great one as they do not charge any fees, so you know your friend will be able to pay off more of their medical bills with the money you raise.
As your friend goes through their illness, they will likely need you for help and comfort in lots of little ways:
- When they are able to accept visitors, go visit your friend in their hospital or home. Bring along personalized gifts, something that will be meaningful to your friend. Think about gifts that might help your friend stay entertained like books, movies, and games. Being stuck in bed for a long period of time can be boring, so they are likely to appreciate anything that will keep them distracted. And if your friend is up to visits, visit as often as you can. No one likes to feel forgotten when they are sick! If you don’t live near your friend, send cards or care packages, and talk with them on the phone when they are up to it.
- Especially if they are in the hospital, bring over their favorite comfort items like warm blankets, soft pajamas, favorite pillows, and slippers or socks. Of course, be sure to check with the hospital first as, depending on your friend’s illness, you may not be allowed to bring certain items.
- Help your friend keep up with the chores as it may be even harder for a friend with a major illness to be able to keep up. Offer to walk or feed their pets, or if you are up for it, offer to care for their pets in your own home for a little while. You can help out with their kids as well by taking them places and cooking for them and again, if you are able, you might offer to take the kids on an outing. Help with little things as well: offer to check their mail, help them take care of paperwork, go with them to their appointments, etc.
- Bring over large serving of cooked meals or freeze some portions of a meal so that your friend can have a hot meal without having to cook. Of course, if your friend is feeling well enough to be up and about a bit, consider bringing over the ingredients for a meal that you two can prepare together. If your friend likes cooking but isn’t well enough to make a meal on their own, it will be fun to be able to do at least a little bit of cooking.
- Ask your friend how you could be most helpful to them. Only they really know how they are feeling and what might help them.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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