A medical crisis can destroy a home life in just a few hours.
One minute you're going about your day like normal. The next you're visiting hospitals, arguing with insurance companies, breaking down in tears and drowning in uncertainty. It's traumatic… and it'll swallow your entire home life if you don't take these steps immediately.
The good news? With proper preparation, families can get through ANY medical emergency without losing control of everything at home. And if wrongful death medical negligence is involved, there are specific steps you can take to protect your family from falling apart.
Let's dive in…
What you'll walk away with:
Why Medical Crises Turn Your Whole Home Upside Down
5 Ways to Safeguard Your Home Life During a Crisis
How Wrongful Death Medical Negligence Changes Things
How to Put Your Family Back Together Again
Why Medical Crises Are So Stressful For Your Home Life
You're injured. Your child falls seriously ill. Something happens to your spouse.
Suddenly life as you know it is interrupted.
But it's more than that, really. When a medical crisis enters the picture, every aspect of your home life is affected.
Your daily routine is gone. Kids miss school. Household chores pile up. Work becomes a struggle. Relationships are tested. It's bad for everyone's mental health.
Data from AARP's latest caregiving study backs this up. Today, there are nearly 63 million family caregivers in the United States. That's an increase of 45% from five years ago. And of those caregivers:
64% say they experience high emotional stress levels
45% say they experience physical stress
When medical emergencies are caused by wrongful death medical negligence, families experience devastation on another level. While they're grieving, they're also angry. Frustrated. And scared about what the future holds.
If you suspect medical negligence played a role in your loved one's death or injury, contact a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. A professional can handle the legal side of things while you spend time with your family.
5 Ways to Protect Your Home Life During a Crisis
Take heart.
Medical crises don't have to ruin your home life forever. In fact, many families come out of these situations stronger than before IF they take action immediately. Follow these five steps to help your family weather the storm:
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
Trying to juggle a medical crisis on your own is a recipe for disaster.
Once something happens, divvy up responsibilities to other trustworthy family members or friends. Have someone cook. Another person picked up the kids from school. Someone else to be your voice and handle communication.
The goal? Maintain your home life while you (or another family member) focus on getting better.
Implement a Communication Plan
Having twenty people call your cell phone every hour to see if you got any updates is exhausting.
Set up a group chat, email thread or private Facebook group for everyone to stay in the loop. Have one person post hospital updates so everyone's on the same page. Prevent unnecessary conversations and save valuable time.
Hold Finances Fort
Medical debt can cripple anyone. As soon as you or a loved one is injured, start keeping track of every expense.
Prescriptions, hospital bills, travel costs, lost wages… write it down. Proper documentation is always important, but medical negligence cases rely heavily on your ability to prove damages later on.
If possible, consult with a financial advisor or patient advocate who can help you navigate insurance battles and payment plans before you get buried.
Make Time for the Kids
Kids don't forget when mom and dad are struggling. They might not even know what's going on but they can tell something's up.
Do your best to keep their routines normal. Explain what's happening (in an age-appropriate way). And assure them that it's okay to feel however they're feeling.
A mistake families often make is caring so much about the injured party that they forget about the other children. Don't make that mistake.
Ask for Help
This can't be stressed enough.
Neighbors, family friends, coworkers, your religious institution… there are people out there that want to help you. Set up a meal train. Have someone watch the kids. Ask someone to run errands for you.
Please let them help.
Wrongful Death Medical Negligence & Your Family
Medical crises can be caused by negligence.
A misdiagnosis. Surgery gone wrong. The wrong medication. A preventable mistake. Delayed treatment that costs someone their life. Data from Johns Hopkins research shows that medical errors are the cause of approximately 250,000 deaths every year in the U.S. That's right up there with diabetes and heart disease.
When a negligent mistake causes wrongful death, families are forced to deal with pain, suffering and lost wages on top of their grieving process. What's worse is they only have a limited amount of time to react.
Known as statutes of limitations, each state provides specific timelines for families to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Florida, the clock starts ticking as soon as the negligent act occurs.
Here's what you need to know:
Preserve all Evidence
Don't throw anything away. Medical records, eyewitness testimonies, texts or emails between you and your healthcare provider… keep it all.
The longer you wait to hold someone accountable, the harder it will be to prove your loved one's case.
Not All Medical Errors Are Negligence
Just because something goes wrong during medical treatment doesn't automatically mean negligence occurred.
Medicine isn't an exact science. But if you and your family believe that the care you received fell below an acceptable standard and resulted in wrongful death… you may have a case.
Get Good Lawyers on Your Side
This can't be stated enough…
If you suspect medical negligence played a role in your loved one's injury or death, contact a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer right away. A professional will handle all the legal work so you can focus on what's important: your family.
How To Move Forward After A Medical Crisis Hits
There's no magic bullet to fixing your family after a medical crisis. Everyone heals at their own rate, and some wounds take longer to recover than others.
Here are a few tips that can help along the way:
One Day at a Time
It's cliché for a reason.
Small victories like making it to school on time or having dinner as a family will make you realize how far you've come.
Lean On Mental Health Professionals
Therapists, counselors and support groups are a thing for a reason.
If you need someone to talk to, reach out. Don't feel shame for seeking professional help.
Stay Organized
Print and store all medical records, receipts, insurance information and any legal documents in a binder. Keeping yourself organized will drastically reduce your stress levels.
Medical crises are traumatizing for the entire family.
But they don't have to destroy your life at home if you take action early. Divide and conquer responsibilities. Hold your ground with insurance companies. And seek legal & emotional guidance if need be.
And if medical negligence caused your loved one's death or injury, having the right legal team in your corner isn't just important…
It can mean the difference between your family thriving vs. just surviving.
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