What Do Long-Term Hospital Patients Need to Stay Mentally Strong?

At Rain of Light, our mission is to help those facing long-term hospitalization get the mental and emotional support they need. It’s easy to remember that serious diseases and their treatments affect the mind and spirit just as much as they do the body. So, we help close this gap within the American healthcare system by providing no-cost therapy for patients and their families.

New supporters will sometimes ask us: What do long-term hospital patients actually need to stay mentally strong? And what sort of care do you offer them?

These are great questions. In today’s post we are going to outline four critical services we believe in. As you read through them, we hope you’ll remember that these aren’t just fads or theories – they are based on what our founder learned when his own son was facing a terminal cancer diagnosis.

One-on-One Counseling and Therapy

Patients facing serious internal illnesses need trained professionals to talk to. Unfortunately, most hospitals don’t have the resources to provide these sorts of services. Doctors and nurses try to help, but they are understaffed and overworked as it is.

Our organization hires therapists to work with these patients so they can find the strength and peace they need to move forward. That means they can not only help the sick become mentally and physically strong, but also take some of the burden away from healthcare workers who don’t have the time or expertise to address the psychology of long-term hospitalization.

Group Meetings and Support

As important as it is for patients to speak with trained professionals, it can also help them talk through issues with others who are facing the same challenges. That’s why group meetings and therapies can be so valuable to those who are suffering with pain, uncertainty, and anxiety.

Of course, group sessions should always be led by trained mental health professionals. These men and women not only provide the right prompts and questions to get a discussion moving, but can also steer patients toward healthy and positive ideas. These cost-effective interventions build friendships and communities. Even better, they can lead to breakthrough moments.

Holistic Therapies

There are any number of holistic therapies – like massage, meditation, or even animal-assisted sessions – that can help patients think and feel more positively. Some of these encourage participants to accept their condition and imagine a brighter future. Others might focus on reframing fears or connecting with nature. Regardless of the specific program, they can help break up the monotony of long hospital stays and bring a bit of joy to someone who might be struggling with their emotions.

While holistic therapies aren’t the cornerstone of our work, data and research have shown that they can be important tools for helping with illness recovery. And, they make a perfect supplement to more focused activities like talk therapy and counseling sessions.

Support for Parents and Families

Naturally, most of what we do is directed at long-term hospital patients themselves. However, it’s important to remember that families can need support, as well. That’s especially true when the patient is a young child with parents or caregivers who might be struggling to deal with the diagnosis or subsequent hospitalization.

For that reason, we also offer the same kinds of group and one-on-one sessions for those loved ones. It helps them with their pain and anxiety, further reduces the burden on medical providers, and most importantly makes it easier for the patient to focus on his or her own recovery. It’s not easy to think about getting better when you’re concerned about the impact your illness could be having on your loved ones. The therapists and counselors we work with can help take those concerns away.

Can You Help Us Bring Hope and Health to Others?

We know that our work can change lives and improve health outcomes, but we can’t do it on our own. Rain of Light needs grants, donations, and even volunteers to keep growing and providing help to those who need it most.

If you want to support us in our mission, check out our giving page and see how easy it is to help!