Chronic Illnesses: How to Support Your Loved Ones

At least 133 million people in the U.S. are living with one or more chronic health conditions. Chronic illnesses affect folks of all ages and encompass many conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory disorders, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and more. 

At LUX Infusion, we understand how challenging it can be to support those living with a chronic illness, and we know how complex patients’ needs can be. With that, we also know how the right support and care can make an incredible difference, promoting wellbeing and better quality of life for loved ones with chronic illnesses.

That’s one reason why our medical infusion team is devoted to supporting patients and families in their health care journeys — and it’s why we are sharing some simple, yet powerful, tips on how to support loved ones with chronic illnesses.

13 Ways to Support a Loved One with a Chronic Illness 

You don’t have to be a medical professional to offer meaningful support and care to friends and family with a chronic disease or lifelong illness. In fact, there are several small, simple actions you can take day to day to offer a world of support. 

1. Educate Yourself

Take some time to learn about the chronic illness your loved one has, educating yourself about the condition’s:

• Symptoms

• Treatments

• Palliative care

• Prognoses

This can give you some background information that helps you understand how your loved one is feeling and how you can be more empathetic while supporting their treatment and care needs. This may also help you understand symptom and disease progression, so you can anticipate future care and evolving needs as an illness develops. 

The LUX Infusion team has deep experience with patient education and chronic illnesses, and we are always here to help patients and their families learn more. Simply ask our team or check out some of our educational guides on Multiple Sclerosis, Immunodeficiency Diseases, and Migraines for more. 

2. Listen & Offer Emotional Support

Let your loved one share their feelings and express their concerns without judgment. Be available to acknowledge their emotions and simply say, “I’m here for you.” 

Just being there to listen and let your loved one open up about their feelings and fears can be incredibly therapeutic. It can also provide them with some empathy and psychological reassurance when they need it most. 

3. Respect Their Limits & Privacy

Chronic illnesses can zap energy levels and create all-new sensitivities. So, be mindful of your loved one’s need to rest, take breaks, and restrict their activities, including their social outings. 

It’s also smart to build some flexibility into your plans, so there’s a no-stress way to reschedule or opt out if your loved one just isn’t feeling up to some event, gathering, or activity.

Also, be aware of their privacy and evolving boundaries. Don’t pry. Let your loved ones share what they’re comfortable opening up about on their own timeline. 

4. Help Out with Practical Tasks

Offer to lend a hand with daily chores or weekly errands to lighten your loved one’s load while also making sure they get what they need. For instance, you can offer to: 

• Go grocery shopping or pick up online orders

• Cook a meal or do some meal prep

• Do laundry or some house cleaning 

• Mow the lawn or do some yard work 

• Walk dogs or take care of other pets

You could also offer to help with one-time projects that would make their life easier at home, like putting up shower handrails if their illness causes mobility issues.

5. Offer to Take Them to Appointments

Medical appointments can be overwhelming, stressful, and upsetting. By attending these appointments with your loved one, you can offer some support while: 

• Asking medical professionals important questions: Your loved one may not consider certain issues or think about asking specific questions. Your presence can take some of the pressure off your loved one, giving them peace of mind that you’ll be there to ask about anything they don’t bring up (but should still know about).

• Being a second pair of ears to listen for key information: This could include upcoming appointment dates, activities to avoid, special care instructions, and more. 

LUX Infusion welcomes families to support patients in their medical infusion treatment journeys. We have comfortable, private suites in both our Anchorage clinic and our new Palmer clinic, so you can be with your loved one while they receive medical infusions. 

6. Plan for Fun & Distractions

Take your loved one out to do what they enjoy and take their mind off of their chronic illness. You could: 

• Play board games or video games

• Make crafts 

• Cook or bake 

• Watch a movie

• Do a puzzle 

• Practice other hobbies

You could even take your loved one to a “class,” like a cooking class, or an “experience,” like an escape room. 

7. Send Thoughtful Messages

A short, kind message during the day can boost your loved one’s mood, make them smile, and be a really bright spot, especially on the tougher days. 

So, send thoughtful text messages, emails, or cards every now and then. When you do, you can keep it short and sweet, just saying that you’re thinking about that person and you care. Those little gestures can be hugely comforting.

8. Help with Financial Strain

Chronic illnesses can be expensive to treat. In fact, your loved ones may have a steady stream of medical bills coming in after they’ve been diagnosed with a chronic disease. 

Knowing that, you could offer to: 

• Pay or help pay for certain medical bills

• Research financial support options

• Start crowd-funding campaigns or other fundraisers to help them raise money

LUX Infusion offers Patient Navigators to walk you and your loved ones through our Financial Assistance Programs and help you reduce the financial burdens of your medical treatments as much as possible. 

9. Create a Support System

You may be an amazing source of support for your loved one with a chronic illness, and you don’t have to be the only one they can turn to. 

Instead, build a support network for your loved one that includes folks who can be there to listen and offer support in other ways. This support system can include various individuals and resources, including: 

• Family

• Friends

• In-person support groups

• Online forums

• Individual therapy

Many cities have active support groups geared toward different chronic illnesses. The team at LUX Infusion can connect you or your loved one with a local or online support group for nearly any chronic disease (simply reach out for more!).

10. Encourage Self-Care

Gently encourage your loved one to take care of themselves with:

• Healthy, nutritional eating and hydration

• Proper exercise (tailored to their limits)

• Sufficient sleep 

• Stress relief and relaxation techniques

A quality self-care routine can make for a better outlook, a more positive mindset, and a better quality of life.

11. Celebrate Achievements

Acknowledge and celebrate accomplishments, big and small. Chronic illnesses can make even the simplest of tasks challenging while creating new limitations and taking certain activities totally off the table. 

So, whenever your loved one achieves something, even if it may seem small, make it a point to celebrate that win. 

Keep in mind that these “wins” can include physical and mental accomplishments, like: 

• Reaching new endurance levels

• Being able to do a physical activity they couldn’t do before

• Staying positive and optimistic

• Sticking to self-care routines

12. Avoid Offering Unsolicited Advice

Unsolicited advice can come from a good place but have unintended consequences, possibly making loved ones feel frustrated, stressed out, or even ashamed. That isn’t a productive road to go down if you really want to offer meaningful support. 

Instead, ask if they would like to talk about their concerns, fears, or challenges. Ask if they’d like your help discussing solutions. Then, listen. 

13. Be Patient & Understanding

Chronic illnesses aren’t easy to navigate. So, be patient and compassionate. Set aside your judgments and try not to compare any individual’s situation to anyone else. Everyone’s experience is unique. 

Remember, the key to being as supportive as possible to those with chronic illnesses is putting yourself in their shoes, setting aside your personal needs, and staying flexible to adapting your approach. 

If you need help supporting a loved one with a chronic illness or it’s time to schedule medical infusion treatments, contact LUX Infusion.

We have infusion clinics in Anchorage and Palmer, AK, and we’re focused on delivering excellent care and support.