{"id":54,"date":"2020-08-01T09:25:35","date_gmt":"2020-08-01T13:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/assistinghandspb.wordpress.com\/?p=54"},"modified":"2020-08-19T13:11:55","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T17:11:55","slug":"when-family-members-disagree-holding-a-productive-caregiving-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/34\/florida\/palmbeach\/blog\/when-family-members-disagree-holding-a-productive-caregiving-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"When Family Members Disagree: Holding a Productive Caregiving Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You probably think that providing love, care, and support to an older member of your family is a personal thing. At one level or another, you feel a sense of responsibility. You have a role to fill. But remember, caring for seniors is also a family matter\u2014an important, appropriate part of the family’s agenda. So, everyone’s goal has to be staying focused, honest, open, and fair with one another.<\/p>\n

Assessing Your Family Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h2>\n

When your spouse, parents or grandparents need help, and other family members consult about it, unresolved family issues may get in the way of effective helping. Revisiting and reopening long-standing family issues of sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, and other family problems during the last months or years of a parent’s life is an easy trap to fall into.<\/p>\n

The best way to minimize these problems is to be aware of their possibility and avoid them consciously. Work with your siblings and other involved family members to focus your interactions around the older person’s needs and best interests, not other family business. If necessary, have a friend or professional counselor meet and talk with you to move the discussion along.<\/p>\n

You probably are not going to change the basic dynamics in your family. Try not to let caregiving issues become an emotional battle between family members. It helps to recognize going into the caregiving role that some people are going to give more than others. Often, there is not much that can be done to correct this imbalance of involvement. However, much can be done in terms of support and affirmation. Those carrying the major responsibility for managing or providing care need both help and appreciation. Do what you can, and support those who are doing the rest.<\/p>\n

Family Communication Skills<\/h2>\n

When it comes to family communication, it’s never too late to improve. Even families with long histories of not communicating very well\u2014or at all\u2014can learn to share their views and ideas for meeting the eldercare needs of parents, grandparents, or other older relatives. If your family is “communication-challenged,” try these simple tips:<\/p>\n