What can I do if my family decides not to notify me of my loved one's hospitalization?

A fellow caregiver asked...

What can I do if my family decides not to notify me of my loved one's hospitalization?

Expert Answer

Martha Clark Scala has been a psychotherapist in private practice since 1992, with offices in Palo Alto and San Francisco, California. She regularly writes about grief and loss, the necessity of self-care, and substance abuse. Her e-newsletter, "Out on a Limb," is available to subscribers through her website.

It depends. What has happened among you and your family members so that they don't want you to know about your loved one's hospitalization?

If you don't know, ask.

If you do know, make amends.

If all attempts to make amends have failed, consider seeking family mediation. Most locales offer free or low-cost mediation services through a Community Board or similar group.