7 Tips to Help Support a Critically Ill Spouse

It is normal to experience a burst of emotions when you discover your spouse has been diagnosed with a critical illness. At these moments, you probably visit other doctors to reconfirm such news. Eventually, when you hear similar verdicts, your daily routine gets disrupted.

Besides feeling emotionally drained, you may notice some physical difficulties while keeping up with the caregiving tasks. Therefore, it is essential to know the coping mechanisms on how to support a critically ill spouse. It helps to keep things normal for the precious moments both of you are about to enjoy together.

1. Consider Living in the Moment

You should not always worry about what will happen next. Give as much time as you can to your spouse. Even doctors believe miracles can occur when patients receive love and support from their close people. 

Attempt to fulfil as many desires as possible. It can be selecting a dream destination for vacation and travelling together or executing a ‘to-do thing’ that was included long ago in the bucket list. However, you must be realistic and incorporate these plans without disturbing your budget. It will help if you add some riders to a pre-existing life insurance plan and arrange treatment costs. 

2. Go for a Personalised Life Insurance Policy

If your partner already has a life insurance plan to their name, you should add additional coverage by modifying the scheme. Contact the insurer to inform them about the health issues; consequently, they will suggest relevant riders. 

Simultaneously you should check for other insurers’ term plans as well and visit their website to check the list of diseases against which they offer critical illness coverage. Getting these preparations right will ensure that you will not need to worry about timely treatment facilities and save tax at the same time.

3. Establish an Open Communication

People diagnosed with critical illness may develop certain queries that counsellors can answer better. Nevertheless, you can understand such concerns and make arrangements, but that should not support any excuse for staying aloof. 

It is quite normal for you not to come up with practical problem-solving suggestions. However, at least ensure to remain all ears. You simply should not overlook this matter if you are serious about supporting a critically ill spouse.

4. Do Not Give Up

Dreaming of a bright future together becomes impossible when you know your partner is suffering from a critical illness. But under any circumstances, you should try not to lose hope and strive to make life easy-going.

Again, the feeling of being hopeful varies from one to another. Together you can sit for a fruitful conversation and affirm to your partner what hope means to you. Critical illness symptoms should not affect your relationship as stress further deteriorates a patient’s health, which is the foremost thing you would want to avoid.

5. Focus Towards Making a Legacy

High chances are there that if a person has been found to live with a critical illness, they must have unfulfilled dreams. You can talk with your partner intuitively to know what they expect from their life. Again, the list can include something far-fetched or ambitious. Sort out the things that seem achievable now and prioritise the activities accordingly. 

These efforts will make them feel special, indirectly motivating them to live longer and take care of themselves. Moreover, remember to discuss how they would imagine their child to grow or you to develop both in the personal and professional realms. Make sure to honour their wishes to the best of your potential.

6. Seek External Support

7. Sit Alone and Review Your Emotions

Be prepared for your emotions to change while caring for a critically ill partner. You will have some good days and some awful days. Occasionally you will feel a variety of emotions all at once. This is normal while caring for a partner whose health is predicted to decline over time.

As the suffering spouse's physical condition worsens, the caregiver invariably experiences multiple phases. It happens because you will want to do everything you can to show your spouse love, comfort, and support in the beginning. But with time, guilt and a sense of helplessness creep in. During these moments, it is crucial to spend some time alone and understand that it is normal to feel irritated sometimes. Such occasional feelings, however are not as strong as your love for your partner. 

There is no way to predict or measure the amount of time you will have with your critically sick spouse. Cherish the time you have left, and do not always pressurise yourself to search for unique ways of how to support a critically ill spouse. Concentrate towards enjoying the little joys disregarding what the future may hold. The more honest you are with one another about your needs, wants, and hopes, the stronger your bond and partnership will be.