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For those who have elderly loved ones, taking care of their parents is something they are happy to do. But trying to manage their home care all by yourself can take a toll on you and your day-to-day functions. If you have siblings, you likely assumed that when the time came, they would be right there alongside you, helping to care for your parents. So if you find yourself struggling without your siblings’ help, you may be feeling frustrated and unsure of how to handle the situation.

If you want to talk to your siblings about sharing the care of your elderly parents, try these helpful tips to keep the conversation peaceful: 

  • home careBe Gentle & Listen: If you’ve reached the point where you feel the need to talk to your siblings about their lack of involvement in the home care of your parent, you’re likely feeling irritated or stressed. While it’s important to communicate how you’re feeling, make sure you do so in a non-argumentative manner. If your siblings feel as though they’re being criticized for not stepping up sooner, they’ll likely become defensive, and the conversation will not be successful. Give them the opportunity to discuss how they’re feeling, as well, and listen to what they have to say. 
  • Speak Face-to-Face: When you set up the meeting to discuss the home care of your loved one, make it clear that you want to discuss the issue in as personal a manner as possible. Face-to-face is ideal, but if this is not possible because of distance, video group calls like Facetime® or Skype® are a great alternative. 
  • Be Clear About What You Need From Them: Once you have expressed your desire for help from your siblings regarding your parent’s home care, be clear about what you need. Keeping things open-ended could lead to more frustration down the road. Instead, designate specific tasks to each sibling, such as driving your parent to doctor appointments, making dinner, or assisting them with their grooming needs.

 

If you need help speaking to your family members about home care for your elderly parents, the trained staff at Memory Care Home Solutions in St. Louis, MO, can help. These professionals provide education and training to help you understand the elderly care options for people with dementia, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease. Give their staff a call at (314) 645-6247 to learn more about their community outreach efforts, and visit their website to see how they have helped families just like yours.

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