It is common for brothers and sisters to disagree, especially when they’re facing the challenges of caregiving. The fear, doubt, exhaustion, and stress that come with the role can be bad for relationships. However, you and your siblings can use the following tips to handle conflicts when caring for an elderly loved one.
Have Open Discussions
When caring for a parent, siblings should have the freedom to voice their opinions and offer suggestions at any time. Without open discussions, some siblings could feel slighted, leading to future problems. Giving everyone the ability to offer advice about your loved one’s health care could help you and your siblings manage conflict and keep your parent safe. When having meetings, ask your siblings what they want, and remind everyone to be open to all suggestions.
Family members can easily become overwhelmed by their caregiving duties, and a professional home caregiver can be a wonderful addition to your caregiving team. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide elderly home care. Turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
Prepare for Emergencies
When a sibling skips out on a task, others must pick up the slack, which could cause tension for families. You need to develop an emergency plan for unforeseen issues, and everyone must be on board. The contingency plan is in place to ensure no one is thrown into an unwanted situation. It will help if everyone has a backup person to step in and ensure your loved one’s needs are met.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Waterloo, ON, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Be Respectful
At no point should you look down on your siblings, and they must show you the same respect. Diminishing their feelings could increase the odds of a hostile environment. Staying positive, even during disagreements, could reduce the odds of things being said or done that can lead to harsh feelings in the future. As adults, you all must respect each other’s wishes, opinions, and beliefs. Maintaining respectful relationships can help sibling caregivers manage future conflicts.
Ask Medical Providers to Meet with Your Siblings
Sometimes people are unaware of how difficult a situation is until they learn more from doctors, nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals. If your siblings believe you’re overreacting and don’t take your warnings seriously, you can ask your loved one’s doctor to meet with you all to go over the severity of your parent’s condition. Having the doctor go over the details of the situation and the need for a proper care plan could reduce conflict and motivate your siblings to work together for your parent’s benefit.
Provide Emotional Support
Sometimes siblings disagree because they’re full of negative emotions and need to vent. By providing emotional support to each other, you and your sisters and brothers can feel valued and loved. At no point should anyone feel lonely, unappreciated, and used. Say “thank you” to each other often, and try to meet once a week for a family dinner. At the gathering, everyone can share praise for each other and talk about the positives of caregiving and life in general.
Many conflicts over caregiving responsibilities can be resolved by hiring a professional caregiver for your loved one. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated at-home care, Waterloo, ON, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (519) 954-2111 to learn more about our high-quality home care services.