As the patient adjusts to the discomfort — and sometimes the pain — of medical treatment and the scrutiny of medical personnel, he becomes increasingly dependent on the family for practical assistance and emotional support.
Kui haige kohaneb meditsiinipersonali järelevalvega ning ravist tingitud ebamugavuse ja mõnikord ka valuga, hakkab ta üha enam sõltuma oma pere praktilisest abist ja emotsionaalsest toetusest.