Help from siblings when taking care of an elderly parent can make all the difference.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work, and that’s definitely true regarding taking care of an elderly parent. If you and your siblings communicate in harmony to fulfill the needs of your senior family members, kudos! Quite often, however, one person shoulders the vast majority of responsibilities. This could quickly lead to hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and conflict.
The following simple steps may help you more fairly distribute caregiving tasks with your siblings.
- Call a meeting with your siblings. It is vital to ensure that you and your siblings are on the same page. Genuine, open communication is crucial to discussing your point of view and hearing theirs. Plainly explain that you are feeling stressed from undertaking most of the caregiving responsibilities, and that you would appreciate more support.
- Develop an inventory. Be specific about all the responsibilities that go into your role as the primary caregiver. Determine who is best equipped to assist in each area based upon time or distance restrictions. Even if one of your siblings resides out of the local area, there are numerous ways to help remotely, such as researching resources and services, setting aside regular time for FaceTiming, paying bills online, etc. In-person tasks can include:
- Preparing meals
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Yard work
- Grocery shopping as well as other errands
- Pet care
- Transportation to doctors’ visits, the barber, weekly religious services, etc.
- Record details. Once you have decided upon a fair division of tasks, write down your decisions and present a copy to each person. Note other important subject areas that arose in your discussion that can be revisited in subsequent meetings. Make sure to think through future planning needs as well. If one of your parents is in the early stages of dementia, for example, you’ll want to be equipped for evolving care needs as the disease advances.
Despite having assistance from your sisters and brothers, taking care of an elderly parent still has its challenges, specifically when juggling your own family, household, career, etc. One great way to ensure a healthy life balance for you as well as your siblings is by working with Morning Glory Home Care, a trusted provider of home care and memory care in Granite City, IL and other nearby areas.
Our senior care experts are fully trained and experienced in all of the care tasks mentioned above and a whole lot more. We’re here to work alongside your family to fill in the gaps in care – whether for only several hours every week or up to around-the-clock care. This enables you and your siblings to choose the care tasks you want to manage yourselves, and leave the rest to us.
Provide your parents with the best possible care, while ensuring you and your siblings have plenty of time for self-care. Contact Morning Glory Home Care at 618-667-8400 for a free consultation and for more information on the ways we can help.