Guide
Supporting a Loved One During a Health Crisis
This guide helps people think through a course of action when supporting a loved one during a health crisis by understanding the situation, asking informed questions, and keeping their loved one at the center of care. It offers practical strategies for communicating with the healthcare team, tracking information, considering daily life and caregiving needs, and coordinating support during and after hospitalization.
Primary audience: Family members, friends, and caregivers supporting a loved one during a health crisis.
Additional audiences: Healthcare professionals, social workers, case managers, patient advocates, faith leaders, and community organizations supporting patients and caregivers.
Topics Covered
- Confirming your role, understanding what is known and uncertain, and identifying the best points of contact for questions.
- Keeping organized notes about symptoms, medications, test results, decisions, and important changes in your loved one's condition.
- Asking questions that clarify the care plan and what to expect next.
- Understanding how recommendations affect daily life, recovery, caregiving, and independence.
- Keeping your loved one at the center by focusing on their goals, values, preferences, usual abilities, and priorities, and speaking up about care experience concerns.
- Learning about key people and services that can help support care and recovery, including care coordinators, social workers, chaplains, patient advocates, insurance case managers, financial counselors, and pharmacists.
Why This Resource Matters
Health crises can be overwhelming for loved ones who suddenly need to help coordinate care, understand complex information, and support decisions, often while managing emotions and practical responsibilities. This guide provides questions, communication strategies, and information about supportive roles and resources to help people stay organized, advocate effectively, and keep their loved one's everyday life in the care plan.
What's Inside
- Understanding the Situation and Your Role
- Questions to Ask the Healthcare Team
- Tracking Information About Symptoms, Tests, Medications, and Decisions
- Keeping Your Loved One at the Center of Care
- Daily Life, Recovery, Caregiving, and Independence Considerations
- People and Services to Know (e.g., Specialists, Care Coordinators, Social Workers, Chaplains, Patient Advocates, Insurance Case Managers, Financial Counselors, Pharmacists, Designated Support Person, Hospitalist)
Download the Resource
Formatted PDF
Includes graphics and layout.
Download PDF of Supporting a Loved One During a Health Crisis (PDF, opens in a new tab)Additional Resources from Other Organizations
- Next Step in Care (United Hospital Fund) (opens in a new tab)
Provides practical guides for family caregivers on hospital admissions, discharge planning, medication management, rehabilitation, home care, and coordinating care transitions between settings.
- Caregiver Action Network – Family Caregiver Toolbox (opens in a new tab)
Offers tools, checklists, and guidance for family caregivers, including communicating with healthcare professionals, organizing information, managing stress, and preparing for caregiving responsibilities across different conditions and roles.
- AARP Family Caregiving (opens in a new tab)
Provides practical information on caregiving, legal and financial planning, hospital discharge, long-term care options, and balancing caregiving with work and everyday responsibilities.
Continue Learning
Keep exploring with another resource from the Center for Person-Centered Care.
Guide
Navigating a Hospital Stay
Build on what you've learned with practical tips for communicating, staying organized, and preparing for discharge during a hospital stay.
Explore Resource – Navigating a Hospital StayEven when a loved one needs your help, their everyday life should remain part of the care plan. Ask the questions that matter most to your loved one's goals, values, priorities, and everyday life.
The Health Guides, Visual Snapshots, and Clinical Practice Resources were reviewed by a physician for clinical accuracy and by other reviewers to improve readability, clarity, and ease of understanding.
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