Siblings of a patient

It is essential to explain the circumstances of the illness to siblings and strive to balance parental attention among children while minimizing changes to their routine. Depending on their age and relationship with the patient, siblings may interpret parental distraction due to the illness as rejection or abandonment.

They may frequently exhibit aggression, poor academic performance, somatoform symptoms, frustration, enuresis, school-related issues, loneliness, anxiety, depression, worry, and fear about their sibling’s future. Ambivalent feelings of jealousy may arise, along with a desire to become ill themselves to receive attention, fear of falling ill, guilt for being healthy, or guilt for having wished their sibling would die due to feeling overshadowed. These reactions may stem (from fantasies about the origin of the illness and perceived responsibility for it).

It is recommended:

·       To spend exclusive quality time with siblings

·       Ask about their day, even through a phone call

·       Avoid constant conversations about the hospital or the ill child

·       Allow them to express their feelings without judgment, showing empathy (e.g., “I understand that you’re angry”).

·       If siblings quickly return to their routines of play, school, and friendships, they should not be discouraged, as this is part of their

adaptation process.

At COINCIDIR, we offer support for brothers and sisters of ill children to help them develop a new perspective on the situation: During curative care, palliative care, and after bereavement.