TASK
Click here to read the following article from the South University Online Library on the impact of disease on family members:
Golics, C. J., Basra, M. K. A., Finlay, A. Y., & Salek, S. (2013). The impact of disease on family members: A critical aspect of medical care. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 106(10), 399–407.
After reviewing the article, respond to the following questions.
- Which factor do you feel has the most impact on family members?
- Support your response with examples from readings.
- What are some of the reasons it is important to include the support persons in the plan of care?
Peer 1
The believe the emotional factor on families causes the most impact because the family members are the ones that are needing to take the responsibility of caring or and being the strong one for the loved one who is going through their illness but when the family member is having feelings of helplessness, and feel like they are not in control of things it makes it difficult to continue to be the strong one and care for that person. My favorite saying is that you cant give from an empty cup and it is true. If the family members are all having different emotions that range from guilt about why not them or having feelings of anger and frustration it can be taken out on other members in the family and even the person suffering from the disease. The emotional aspect of things affects each and every person and each person has their own emotions and because people deal and cope with things differently it causes a huge impact on families. It is important that as healthcare professionals we include the family as much as possible in the plan of care because at the end of the day those are the ones who going to be facing those challenges with the patient. The plan of care needs to fit around the schedules of those that are going to help support and concerns need to be addressed early on so that if any resources can be offered that it is done so. Sometimes the disease processes of people can turn very bad quickly and the support person is left doing everything they can to hold all of the responsibility and personally I have been there and I really appreciated that I was included throughout the whole process in the plan of care because it helped to prepare me and made me feel more confident in the care that I was providing.
Golics, C. J., Basra, M. K. A., Finlay, A. Y., & Salek, S. (2013). The impact of disease on family members: A critical aspect of medical care. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 106(10), 399–407.
Peer 2
This article was a well written and developed article that discusses the impact that family members experience with having a loved one with a chronic disease. Quality of Life of individuals is closely related to the quality of life of those around them, including partners or parents. The factor that I feel is most impactful is emotionally. Whether you are the caregiver, relative, living with, etc. every family feels the emotional impact of the ill family member. The psychological distress felt by family members often results from their feelings of helplessness and lack of control. (Golics, 2013) There’s many emotions that are experienced from the patient’s family members such as: upset, frustration, worry, guilty, despair, etc. Every member of the family member reacts and experiences their emotions differently.
Regardless of the emotional, financial, social, work, leisure time, etc. it is still very important to include family members into the plan of care for the ill patient. There are many resources available to assist with the stress and burden that can be felt by caretakers, but it is also important for the patient to have family/friend support; especially in a circumstance that they are unable to work, cook, daily living activities, etc. The patient, whether is a cancer patient, child, partner; if the disease has taken them to the a level of dependency, it important to come together, work together, and discuss the needs of the patient thoroughly and put in to place a care plan that incorporates not just the patient themselves but the patients family members as well. The reason to include family member, depending on the patient is so they have someone who can clean/bathe them, perform dressing change, administer medications, communicate with medical personnel, change position, collect medical reports, etc. Day 1 of the patient in the hospital, discharge teaching should be initiated, and family member incorporated.
Resources: Golics, C. J., Basra, M. K. A., Finlay, A. Y., & Salek, S. (2013). The impact of disease on family members: A critical aspect of medical care. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 106(10), 399–407.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The impact of disease on family members is a critical aspect of medical care that needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Family members often experience emotional distress and feelings of helplessness when a loved one is suffering from an illness. It is important for healthcare professionals to consider the impact on family members and include them in the plan of care to provide necessary support and resources. This response will discuss the factor that has the most impact on family members, provide examples from the readings to support the response, and highlight the importance of including support persons in the plan of care.
Answer:
The factor that has the most impact on family members is the emotional aspect of dealing with a loved one’s illness. Family members are often required to take on the responsibility of caring for the sick individual and being a source of strength and support. However, the emotional toll of witnessing a loved one’s suffering and feeling helpless can be overwhelming for family members.
As mentioned in the article by Golics et al. (2013), family members often experience a range of emotions such as guilt, anger, frustration, worry, and despair. Each family member may have a different way of coping with these emotions, leading to varying levels of impact on the family dynamics. This emotional distress is a critical aspect of the impact on family members, as it can affect their own well-being and their ability to provide care and support to the patient.
For example, if a family member is overwhelmed with feelings of guilt or anger, they may indirectly take out their emotions on other family members or even on the patient. This can create tension and strain within the family, making it difficult for everyone to cope with the illness effectively.
It is essential to include support persons, such as family members, in the plan of care for several reasons. Firstly, family members are the ones who will be facing the challenges with the patient on a day-to-day basis. They will be responsible for providing care, managing medications, and assisting with various activities of daily living. By involving them in the plan of care, healthcare professionals can ensure that the care plan is feasible and aligns with the family’s schedules and resources.
Additionally, including family members in the plan of care helps address their concerns and provides them with necessary resources and support. As mentioned in the article, family members often experience psychological distress due to feelings of helplessness and lack of control. By involving them, healthcare professionals can provide education, guidance, and access to resources that can alleviate their distress and enhance their ability to provide effective care.
In my personal experience, being included in the plan of care for a loved one helped me feel more confident and prepared in providing the necessary care. It also allowed me to discuss my concerns and seek guidance from healthcare professionals, which ultimately improved the overall care and well-being of the patient.
In conclusion, the emotional aspect has the most impact on family members when dealing with a loved one’s illness. Including support persons, such as family members, in the plan of care is crucial to address their emotional distress, provide necessary support, and ensure effective care for the patient.
