Have you recently learned that a good friend is dealing with a serious or chronic illness? If so, you would probably give almost anything to offer your support and comfort in person.
Unfortunately, that’s not always possible, especially if you live across the country or the globe. Fortunately, cell phones make it easy to connect with your sick friend, no matter how far away they are. But you may feel driven to do more than just call and check in every so often.
Whether distance, finances, or a packed schedule keep you from rushing to your friend’s bedside, you can still show up for them in other ways. Simple gestures can go a long way toward helping them feel your devotion and affection.
Here are simple ways to comfort a sick loved one even when you can’t be there in person.
Send a Thoughtful Care Basket
Shipping a get well care package is a wonderful way to comfort and support someone else from a distance. The package you send doesn’t have to be elaborate or costly. It’s more important that you put some thought into it and make sure it’s something the recipient will appreciate.
If you don’t know your friend as well as you thought and have no idea what they’d like, don’t panic. There are several safe gift options that appeal to practically anyone.
Most people love comfort food, so a basket of homestyle soup or bread is sure to be enjoyed. Self-care kits and wellness teas are also a safe bet and can help support your friend’s health.
Brighten Their Day With Funny Messages
Dealing with a prolonged illness can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. It can leave the sick person feeling depressed and gloomy—especially if they’re stuck in a hospital bed while they recover.
Unfortunately, people who feel chronically depressed may have a slower recovery journey. Research shows that depression can negatively affect postoperative and surgical outcomes.
Given that information, one of the best things you can do for someone who’s sick is boost their mood. You may be able to accomplish this goal by sending them funny text messages or memes.
You could also gift them a comedic book or recommend that they watch a hilarious sitcom. Keep in mind that if your friend has recently undergone surgery, they may not be able to laugh until they’ve sufficiently healed.
In that case, you may want to save your funny messages and gifts until their doctor clears them to laugh.
Call Regularly
Many sick people would choose talking to loved ones over gifts any day of the week. If you can’t be there for your friend in person, at least try to be there for them over the phone.
Consider setting up a recurring schedule that specifies when you’ll call them. That way, they can look forward to your conversations each week.
When you talk to your sick friend, try to remember they may not always have positive things to say. It can be extremely frustrating to be unwell and depend on other people for your support.
Try to listen without judgment and let your loved one know they can call you whenever things get too heavy and they need additional comfort.
Start a Medical Fundraiser
Suffering from a prolonged illness can be stressful in many ways. Besides the physical and emotional exhaustion, being sick is often financially draining.
This is especially true in cases where extended hospitalization or bed rest are required. If your friend is facing financial difficulty due to rising medical costs and not being able to work, you may be able to help.
You could start a medical fundraiser to bring in much-needed financial support for your loved one. Popular fundraising platforms include Give A Hand, GoFundMe, and Givetaxfree.org.
Select your preferred platform, then create the fundraiser and share it across all your social media platforms. Be sure to provide essential information in the fundraiser about your friend and their financial needs.
The more transparent you are, the easier it will be for others to trust and support your cause.
Celebrate the Little Accomplishments
Time often seems to slow to a crawl for the person who’s dealing with prolonged illness. They may start to feel like they’ll be bedridden or stuck in the hospital indefinitely. They may also have a difficult time recognizing the small moments of progress they make from day to day.
You can encourage your friend to be hopeful by helping them celebrate even the smallest accomplishments. If they walk five extra steps down the hospital hallway, celebrate them like they’ve just run a marathon.
If they got a feeding tube removed and enjoyed their first taste of food without it, makes them feel like they just won the lottery. Celebrating the small wins can help redirect their thoughts and give them greater motivation to keep fighting and progressing.
Comfort a Sick Friend from Far Away
When someone you care about is going through a difficult time, it’s natural to want to be by their side. You want to offer comfort, share a hug, and remind them they’re not alone. But sometimes, life circumstances make it hard to be physically present.
It can be heartbreaking to be located far from someone who needs you. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do from a distance to show your support.
Try these simple ways to show up for a sick friend and help them feel loved even when it’s impossible to be there in person.
