Women Deserve Better

Women Deserve Better: For us, that means better information, better support, and better choices. Life brings challenges. We bring empowerment, because we’ll never underestimate women.

How to Help a Friend Who’s Sick at Home

by

It is difficult not being able to see friends in person, and it can be scary when you learn that someone you know is sick at home and very infectious. You want to help, but you also don’t want to fall ill yourself. Here are 7 ways you can help a friend who’s sick at home, including some ideas on what you can send in a care package if you have a friend who is sick who lives a long distance away.

  1. Pick up her groceries. There is a good possibility that for at least a couple weeks, your friend will not be leaving her home. Yes, there are a number of delivery services, but they all cost money. If you’re heading to the store anyway, offer to pick up your friend’s order. Leave it on her doorstep, and let her know it’s there. You can run other errands for her, too.
  2. Make him a casserole. Just like you’d do for anyone else going through a difficult time, cook a meal and leave it on your friend’s doorstep.
  3. Check in with a call. Help yourself and your friend stay connected by having regular conversations on the phone or via video calls (FaceTime, Skype, etc.).
  4. Do some shared activities. Watch a TV show or movie together. There are many websites and apps that allow you to play a game virtually. 
  5. Do her yard work or care for her pet for her. Bring your own tools and work in your friend’s yard doing whatever needs to be done. Take her dog on a walk, if needed.
  6. Connect him to his hobbies. Does your friend like reading? Get him a gift card for whatever e-reader he owns. Does he like music? Get him a gift card for digital downloads. Order some craft supplies for your friend if that suits his fancy. 
  7. If you want to send a care package, keep in mind the ideas from No. 6 as well as anything else to bring comfort. What relaxing thing would make your friend’s day? Give her a gift card for grocery deliveries. Just remember some of our most basic needs, connection, and meaning: what gives connection and what gives meaning.

It is wonderful that you want to help, and even if you can’t see the person in person, you can still make your friend’s day better. These are just 7 ideas to help someone you know and love who’s sick at home.

By Bethanie Ryan