Comments on: Can a family be too involved?

By: Therapy

Therapy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:55:21 +0000

I was searching therapy blogs on Google and found this post. Your are doing good job. Keep it up.

By: megan fox

megan fox — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:52:10 +0000

Sign: umsun Hello!!! rcuwwymhyw and 4423ssgfhphzye and 1027I like your blog. cool post!

By: sandrar

sandrar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:16:48 +0000

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.

By: Reba

Reba — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:18:26 +0000

I agree it’s appropriate for the patient’s safety – especially if it’s affecting her blood pressure! – as well as respectful of her confidentiality and autonomy, to ask the family member to leave the bedside. If it’s difficult to find a way to simply ask the family member to step away, for example if the family member appears particularly challenging in demeanor, during my introductory remarks i sometimes have scanned the bedside for something that could reasonably be needed, such as a clean cup or gown to be used to cover the patient’s back, and enlisted the family member’s help in going out to the clerk’s desk to seek it on the patient’s behalf. Sometimes this act of giving the family member something useful to do, while removing them long enough for the patient to express any concerns they may have, has been very beneficial for all involved. It must also be remembered that those few moments away from the family member may be the only chance the patient has to confide an abusive or neglectful situation, or some other information that the patient doesn’t want to share in front of the family member.

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:36:35 +0000

You know, its totally appropriate to politely ask the family to leave… I have been in that situation before and you have every right to diplomatically explain that you want to limit distraction, or maximize the space in a small hospital room in order to make the most of your limited time with the patient. It can be hard to muster up the nerve to say something, but I have never had a family challenge me when I asked them nicely and gave a reason.

By: Melody

Melody — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:17:23 +0000

I totally agree with you here. I had a similar experience on a placement I had in the North Island (NZ). At the hospital where I was at sometimes patients were encouraged to do arrange a time to separate family visiting from therapy. Mind you we were always adapting when we saw clients.
Its interesting how we can often pick up family dynamcs and using that positively in consultation so long as we dont make assumptions I suppose.
Tell me, is this continuing to happen? What was the discharge planning like? Did you have to confront them or have the patient do something?