How Can You Bring Family Members Together When They Disagree about Care Decisions?

Having a large and involved family can be a wonderful thing as a caregiver, but that doesn’t mean that they will always agree with caregiving decisions. In fact, they may disagree so completely that they want to talk about different ways of handling the situation.

Homecare in Delray Beach FL: Senior Care Decisions

Remind Everyone of the Goal Here

Sometimes when family members disagree they can let their own needs and wants get in the way. It can help to remind everyone that the goal here is to make sure that your aging family member is getting the care that she needs at this stage of her life. No matter what else is going on, that’s the priority.

Talk about the Issues

Often family members disagree about a care decision because they’re not as immersed in the situation as you are. For example, the idea of hiring elderly care services might frighten other family members who worry you’re pawning your aging adult off on someone else to take care of. The real issue is that they may not fully understand how demanding caregiving is and what kind of help you need.

Keep the Talk Respectful

Any disagreement can still be a civil one. If other family members aren’t willing to stick to that guideline, you may have to table the talk for now and return to it at some other stage. Tempers can very easily get heated when it comes to caring for people that you love and tempers getting out of hand can damage other relationships.

Look for Ways to Bridge Gaps

If there are any ways to compromise in this situation, look for ways to introduce those compromises. It might be difficult for you as the primary caregiver to have to give in on some issues, but if it benefits your elderly family member that might have to be how it goes. Bridging these gaps can help repair the overall problem more quickly.

Remind Them What Your Senior Wants

Ultimately your aging family member may have the final say in this discussion, of sorts. If she has already determined what she wants, that may be what everyone needs to try to accept. Friendly reminders of her wants can help to keep the conversation on the right track.

Being the primary caregiver isn’t always easy. Sometimes it means that you have to mediate amongst other family members and educate them as much as you can about what’s going on.

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Michelle Hankla, Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison

Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison at Alongside Home Health

Michelle has spent many years in a customer focused setting in a variety of community organizations. She has worked with seniors for many years particularly those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. As part of the Alongside team, she works closely with our client service team to ensure client satisfaction. She visits healthcare facilities, clients and their families to ensure that top notch care is being provided to their satisfaction. She is the interface between our caregivers, clients, and our organization that keeps everything operating smoothly. She has resided in Palm Beach county for many years and has two children.

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