If you genuinely want to support a family member, offer your time and knowledge instead of money. Help them review their budget, identify wasteful spending, or think through income options. This is often more valuable than cash, and it does not hollow out your corpus.
When cash is unavoidable, pay the vendor or hospital directly rather than handing over money. This ensures it goes where it is needed and removes the temptation for the funds to be redirected.
Key distinction: A sudden crisis deserves a one-time response. Habitual reliance deserves a different kind of help – not a recurring transfer.