When caring for an aging parent, you might find yourself dealing with disagreements and disputes with siblings. This can be caused by various unique factors, including family dynamics and the needs of each person involved. To avoid disputes over the care of your aging parent, you must have the patience to hear all sides of the story and remain unbiased and objective in making decisions that affect your family. Reading this helpful article, you can learn how to solve disputes with siblings over your aging parent.
Consult An Expert
One of the most difficult parts of being an adult child is mediating disputes about your aging parent between siblings. When children are adults, they have their own lives and sometimes live in different states, so the best way to solve disputes is to get an expert assessment. This can take several forms, including mediation and arbitration, depending on the problem being addressed and the personalities involved. An expert will be able to guide you through this process with as little pain as possible and result in fewer conflicts down the road, determine if there are any next steps, and help you come up with an agreement that includes what’s best for your aging parent.
Research Senior Care Options
The best way to solve disputes between siblings over caring for an aging parent is by researching available care options. There are many care options, from active independent living communities to hospice care, to offer a level of independence and dignity in the elder world. If your loved one remains at home and with one of you as a full-time caregiver, other siblings can provide support in the form of financial assistance or daily visits.
Let Others Know What You Need And How They Can Help
The best tip on how to solve these disputes is to talk about your needs and wants of your sibling(s) right away. Share what you need, not just what your parents need. Acknowledge when there is an unspoken expectation that you carry the full burden of responsibility for your aging parent. This will prevent any misunderstandings or hurt feelings later down the road. It also helps you understand where they are coming from to work together as a team instead of against each other. You might also want to talk to a financial planner or your community care team if you have questions about what’s covered under a given plan.
Communicate With Parent, Siblings, And, If Necessary, Authorities
It is common for children to disagree with what they think should be done with an aging parent. They may even disagree about who should care for them, leading to strained relationships. The most important thing with any situation like this is communication. If you are having trouble communicating or if your sibling seems upset by something that has happened, talk to each other as soon as possible. You may find out that there was nothing wrong, and everything is fine now. Or maybe you’ll realize that things aren’t going well and you have some work to do before things get better again.
