Helping a Friend or Family Member with their New Prosthesis

Often times patients with new prostheses rely on friends and family both physically and emotionally. This emotional rehabilitation is just as, if not more, important than physical rehabilitation. Many people judge their circumstances based on the feelings and words of those around them.

Georgia Prosthetics is dedicated to provide the most supportive environment for every patient. There are an innumerable number of things that friends and family can do to support the people in their lives with prosthetics. Though every person is different and had different mechanisms of adjusting to the changes in their lives, here are a few things that help establish a path to a productive recovery and a fulfilling life with a prosthetic.

Encourage your friend or family member

It is one of the easiest things to feel the need to completely take the responsibility of daily life into your own hands. As a friend or a family member, it is important to remember that you are there to support and not to take over the life of someone with a prosthetic.

At first, it will be difficult to perform every day tasks, it is imperative that you encourage them to find ways to continue doing the actions they are used to. There is no benefit in doing everything for a friend or family member with a new prosthetic.

If they are taught to feel that they cannot complete everyday tasks, then emotional recovery becomes incredibly difficult. Prosthetics are meant to give people the right to the life they had before. By taking away the autonomy of the person, not only are you beginning a cycle of self-doubt, you are also enabling self-pity and potential depression.

It is more than possible to attain the same quality of life as before having the prosthetic. By encouraging your friend or family member to take part in daily activities you are pushing the healing process forward.

Be supportive throughout this important lifestyle adjustment

Being supportive family member or friend is not easy. There will be a temptation to swallow your feelings and give everything to your friend or family with the new prosthetic. However this can very easily lead to resentment issues and guilt issues.

To avoid these sorts or snags and continue on a clear, long path to recovery and emotional stability, trust and communication are essential. For a time the new prosthetic will make your friend or family member feel unlike themselves. Establishing trust where they can come to you with their feelings and problems without fear of feeling guilty is crucial to self-care. However, taking care of yourself is important. Any rehabilitation process can be draining. So maintaining your strength is important.

Going back to work

Another thing that can be difficult about learning to live with a prosthetic is struggling with the motivation to go back to work. Just like the struggle in performing daily activities at home, daily activities at work can provide just as much of a challenge.

The important thing to remember that productivity is incredibly important, in every person, not just those individuals with new prosthetics. Encouraging your friend or family member to go back to work will raise their self-esteem and start a cycle of learning to maintain the life they had before prosthesis. In the society we live in, there is some prejudice towards people with prosthetics. Another way of supporting your friend or family member is to be knowledgeable about their rights in the work place. Support comes in all different forms.

Embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey

Learning to live with a prosthetic can be challenging and as stated earlier, everyone has their own mechanisms for adjusting. To be the most effective support system to the people with prosthetics in your life, information is crucial.

Many times the encouragement and support you give will not be enough, because having a prosthetic is not a very relatable problem. However, being a wealth of knowledge to your friend or family member can do miles of good. Be sure to locate support groups, community activities, and other classes and seminars that can help them fully assimilate back into their lives.

Even if you are unsure of the best way to support your friend or family member with a prosthetic, having information and resources shows that you are willing to try. Many support groups and activities are held for both individuals with prosthetics and their friends and family. If you are willing to put in the effort, you can always be a part of the healing process.

Posted by Georgia Prosthetics
1947 Briarwood Ct NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: 404-873-3725