Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays are usually a wonderful time of the year for friends and family to gather. We laugh around the dinner table and enjoy each other’s company. This is a great opportunity to chit chat about your health. This can be useful in the future if your loved ones ever experience a health crisis. It doesn’t have to be a dreadful conversation and it can be done privately when you feel like the moment is right. Don’t know where to begin? Here are 4 different ideas to help you get the conversation started.
You would be surprised at how many people need help, but he or she is reluctant to ask for it. They may come up with many reasons such as, “I thought you were too busy,” “I didn’t want to bother you,” or “I didn’t want you to worry about me.” Sometimes, knowing that someone is showing concern will help a family member open up about his or her health. This can help you assess their needs and find out where you can be most helpful.
This question has the potential to lead down many different paths. You may find out that there is no real system to how they are taking their medicine, even though the doctor has given specific instructions that can be found on the prescription bottle. It could also reveal if the person has actually picked up the medicine from the pharmacy. Furthermore, it could unveil whether or not the family member understands the point in taking the medication. Asking this question may provide a chance for you to help your loved one get a system in place to keep up with their medicine(s) and ensure that there are no barriers in getting the prescription from the pharmacy.
This could also potentially lead the conversation in many directions. This may tell whether or not your family member has a doctor. It may expose whether or not the person has been keeping up with his or her appointments. Another thing it could reveal is whether or not the person has a specific worry or concern about their upcoming appointment. If you find out that there needs to be a better way to help with keeping up with their appointments, offer to help figure it out. Again, this is letting your loved one know that you not only care, but you care enough to help them do something about it.
Having a specific health goal can be key in helping you reach the goal. Being specific can give more direction than just a general goal. Saying, “I want to lose 10 pounds over the course of the next 90 days” is much more powerful than just saying “I want to lose weight” in general. Hence, finding out your loved one’s health goal can be lifechanging for that person. You may uncover that they have a goal, but don’t know where to begin working towards this goal. You can empower him or her by providing advice or pointing them in the direction of specific resources.
In summary, the first step in playing a more integral role in your loved one’s health is having a conversation. Remember that discussing a person’s health is a very private matter. Approach it with love. Regardless of where the conversation goes, never intentionally convey words that can make him or her feel ashamed. Serve as a source of support and find out how you can best serve in their health journey.
Comment below and let me know if you plan on having a health chat during the holidays.
