Summary
It may work if:
- The illness is fairly well under control
- Your loved one has friends
- You and the rest of your family know about mental illness
Every family that is touched by mental illness is unique. That is why there is no simple answer to whether or not your loved one should live with you. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your loved one is more likely to succeed at home if:
- Their illness is under control. Can they take care of their own basic needs? Can they take care of their symptoms?
- Your loved one has friends. Are they involved in activities outside the home?
- They get along with others living at home. Do they get along with their sibling who also lives at home?
- Others living at home accept your loved one as a part of the family. Your loved one doesn’t feel like an outsider. They are included in family activities. Others treat them as part of the family.
- Your loved one is willing to get involved in some kind of treatment program. This can include peer programs or regular therapy. They have others besides you who will support and help them.
Having your family member live at home is less likely to work if:
- Your loved one can’t get involved in daily activities. This could be because their symptoms are so serious.
- Other family members don’t want the member with the illness living at home.
- Others at home can’t treat the relative who has an illness with respect. Or they are mean, get angry or are afraid of them.
- The family is a single, older parent living alone.
- Your loved one depends on you for everything. Or they don't have friends outside the home.
- The rest of the family becomes too tied up with the illness and can’t live normal lives.
- The family member with the illness is misusing drugs and alcohol and refuses to get help.
©2022 Carelon Behavioral Health
Summary
It may work if:
- The illness is fairly well under control
- Your loved one has friends
- You and the rest of your family know about mental illness
Every family that is touched by mental illness is unique. That is why there is no simple answer to whether or not your loved one should live with you. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your loved one is more likely to succeed at home if:
- Their illness is under control. Can they take care of their own basic needs? Can they take care of their symptoms?
- Your loved one has friends. Are they involved in activities outside the home?
- They get along with others living at home. Do they get along with their sibling who also lives at home?
- Others living at home accept your loved one as a part of the family. Your loved one doesn’t feel like an outsider. They are included in family activities. Others treat them as part of the family.
- Your loved one is willing to get involved in some kind of treatment program. This can include peer programs or regular therapy. They have others besides you who will support and help them.
Having your family member live at home is less likely to work if:
- Your loved one can’t get involved in daily activities. This could be because their symptoms are so serious.
- Other family members don’t want the member with the illness living at home.
- Others at home can’t treat the relative who has an illness with respect. Or they are mean, get angry or are afraid of them.
- The family is a single, older parent living alone.
- Your loved one depends on you for everything. Or they don't have friends outside the home.
- The rest of the family becomes too tied up with the illness and can’t live normal lives.
- The family member with the illness is misusing drugs and alcohol and refuses to get help.
©2022 Carelon Behavioral Health
Summary
It may work if:
- The illness is fairly well under control
- Your loved one has friends
- You and the rest of your family know about mental illness
Every family that is touched by mental illness is unique. That is why there is no simple answer to whether or not your loved one should live with you. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your loved one is more likely to succeed at home if:
- Their illness is under control. Can they take care of their own basic needs? Can they take care of their symptoms?
- Your loved one has friends. Are they involved in activities outside the home?
- They get along with others living at home. Do they get along with their sibling who also lives at home?
- Others living at home accept your loved one as a part of the family. Your loved one doesn’t feel like an outsider. They are included in family activities. Others treat them as part of the family.
- Your loved one is willing to get involved in some kind of treatment program. This can include peer programs or regular therapy. They have others besides you who will support and help them.
Having your family member live at home is less likely to work if:
- Your loved one can’t get involved in daily activities. This could be because their symptoms are so serious.
- Other family members don’t want the member with the illness living at home.
- Others at home can’t treat the relative who has an illness with respect. Or they are mean, get angry or are afraid of them.
- The family is a single, older parent living alone.
- Your loved one depends on you for everything. Or they don't have friends outside the home.
- The rest of the family becomes too tied up with the illness and can’t live normal lives.
- The family member with the illness is misusing drugs and alcohol and refuses to get help.
©2022 Carelon Behavioral Health