The document discusses the impact of illness and hospitalization on children and their families. It notes that younger children struggle more due to limited understanding and fear of the unfamiliar hospital environment. Families typically go through stages of shock, anger, depression and eventual adaptation when a family member is diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer. The illness can cause changes in responsibilities, rules, needs, sexuality and thinking about the future. The document provides tips for families like learning about the disease, supporting the ill person, and not being influenced by their negative behaviors.

1. The family of an ill
person:
General aspects of cancer patient (cancer)

2. Introduction
• A child that is brought to the hospital may have a
much different experience to that of an adult.
Frequently, the younger the child, the less able
he/she is to take in what is happening and the more
frightened he/she may soon become.
Also, the younger the child and the longer the
hospitalisation, the more the child is deprived of its
emotional supports, and the more severe the child’s
reactions are.

3. • Children are more susceptible than adults because
they typically have a limited grasp of the
phenomenon of illness and its causes, and are
usually not provided with enlightening
information.
This leads to a variety of behaviour used by the
child in retaliation to his/her lack of control in the
situation.

4. Family life
• Family member or friend struggle of
cancer.
• Feelings & lifestyle that been
affected by this diagnose.
• Changes

5. Parental reaction
When apprised of a diagnosis and the need for hospitalization,
the family typically goes through 4 stages
• 1. Shock or disbelief: The family questions the doctor and may seek a
second opinion
• 2. Anger: Parents direct their anger either at themselves – in which
case it is mixed with guilt – or at the doctors. This anger can delay
appropriate treatment.
• 3.Depression and sadness : Here the family begins to stay with their
sadness concerning the illness of the child and mourns the loss of the
idealized child.
• 4.Adaptation and adjustment: Parents come to view the child and the
illness realistically, thereby attempting to alter the family milieu to deal
with it

6. Types of changes
• Changes in Responsibilities
• Changes in Rules
• Changes in Needs
• Changes in Sexuality and Intimacy
• Changes in Thinking of future

7. Tasks
• Learn about the disease
- Knowing the problem you are fighting.
- By doing so shows any possibilities.

8. • Don’t get influenced on partners behavior
- When partner acts irrationally. What happens?
• Show support and caregiving
- By complements and motivational words.
- Get through situation, so you show affection to
them

9. References
• http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf
/pages/Mental_illness_family_and_friends?open
• http://www.ehow.com/how_2259327_help-sick-person-
feel-better.html
• Dr. Bernard W.K. Lau & Dr. Wilson W.C. Tse:
‘Psychological effects of physical illness and
hospitalisation on the child and the family’.