Having an aging parent who needs help from a caregiver can be hard to navigate as a family. It can often lead to arguments among any adult children, creating a stressful situation for all involved. To ensure the senior loved one is getting the quality care they need and that the siblings maintain a calm relationship, below is a brief guide.

What Are the Common Causes of Conflicts? 

The main cause of conflict between adult siblings is how to divide the necessary tasks between them, such as accompanying the parent to doctor’s appointments, monitoring their medication, helping them around the house, and providing transportation to health and social engagements. It can be stressful to fit these responsibilities into full schedules, and conflicts often arise when one person feels like they’re doing more than their fair share of work.

Another cause of conflict can come from trying to manage the parent’s finances if they’re unable to do it themselves. There can be disagreements about what to invest, how to budget, how much your parent can afford to spend on miscellaneous items each month, how much to save, and how much to set aside for healthcare costs. 

How to Remedy the Conflict

The most effective way to settle conflicts is to engage in regular communication that is honest and calm. You want to refrain from accusing each other or being defensive, so you can understand what the core problems are.

Whenever the conversation begins to get heated, agree to step away until you can talk peacefully again. Sometimes, writing out your concerns or agreeing to bring in a family mediator helps everyone feel heard without letting emotions escalate. Continue meetings to give each other the chance to communicate concerns or frustrations in the future as well. 

Beyond communication, both sides will need to agree to a solution that considers every person’s concerns. For financial stress, consider hiring a financial consultant or similar accountant to go over your parent’s finances and create a safe plan or manage them for you. If the daily duties are too much for either of you to take on, talk about alternatives. Research and tour assisted living communities in your area, hire an in-home caregiver, or consider getting your parent respite care for one or two weekends each month.

If you and your sibling are looking into caregiver options for your parent, the Atmore Nursing Center in Escambia County, AL, can help. Federally- and state-licensed, they offer assisted living, skilled nursing, and respite care in a comfortable 100-bed facility. Their staff includes licensed RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, and they’ll develop a personalized care plan for your loved one, addressing dietary, social, and rehabilitative needs. You can learn more about their services online, and schedule a tour by calling (251) 368-9121.