It’s something that we all hope never happens to us, but unfortunately, there may be times when someone in our life experiences a life-changing injury, and it’s down to us to learn how best to support them.
Be patient
As hard as it may be for you, things are going to be a lot harder to come to terms with for the person who you are supporting. There may be days when everything seems almost impossible, and those are the days when they are going to need your patience more than any others. Take a deep breath, remember that sometimes things are hard, and do your best to be patient.
Help them however you can
Depending on what has led to the injury, and what effects it has on the person, they may need your help taking over specific responsibilities. For example, you may need to help them access a lawyer, which can be found by searching for something like ‘Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer’ online. If the injury has affected their cognitive abilities, they may need you to help them with remembering or understanding what their lawyer has said, so this is something really practical you can do to support them.
Keep track of their medical needs
A person with a life-changing injury may need someone to advocate for them with their medical needs. Keep track of their medication, what they need, and how often they take it, and ensure that they are always on top of it. You may also need to take them to doctors’ appointments and take notes on their behalf.
Ask them what they need
It’s important to remember that they are the one who knows what kind of support they want and need the most. Any loss of independence can be a massive blow for anyone, and it’s essential that they don’t feel patronized by your support, but empowered by it. If you don’t know what they need, just ask. Let them know that they can be open and honest with you about what will most benefit them and try to work with that. It will be much better than simply assuming that you know best.
Research
Although you will never know more about someone else’s life and injury than they do, it shows a lot of support if you’re willing to put in the research and understand as much as you can. If there is a particular activity or function that they struggle with now, why not see if you can find a tool or hack to allow them to do it more comfortably. There are loads of gadgets to help people with various disabilities or difficulties and give them independence and freedom that they may have lost since their accident.
Supporting someone after such a tremendous, life-changing injury can be draining and challenging at times, but it is also one of the most worthwhile things you can do. With patience, an open mind, and an optimistic outlook, you can make a huge difference.
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