Home Care Services: If you’re a caregiver for a senior parent or senior parent’s you probably do a lot more work than others in your family, such as siblings, realize.
If your siblings don’t live nearby they may not have a true understanding of your senior loved one’s state of mind or state of health. And during the holidays when everyone is already stressed out you might find yourself facing some judgmental or critical family members. Even well-meaning family members or siblings can have an offensive tone or seem accusatory while also not realizing how much care you provide. Having home care services providers can be a great way to help you get through this situation.
Here are some effective ways that you can handle criticism from family members without starting a family battle:
-Show Them What It’s Like
A very effective way to bring family members up to speed on the current mental and physical condition of your senior parent or parents is to have them take over care for a day. Your siblings may not realize that your senior parent’s state of mind of physical health has changed and that your parent now requires a lot more care. Sleep in and then do some leisurely shopping or get coffee while your siblings see what caring for a senior parent is really like.
-Suggest Alternatives Like 24-Hour Home Care
If your siblings have concerns about the care that you’re providing then suggest to them that it might be time for 24-home care for your parents. There are plenty of caring and experienced 24 hour home care providers who can take over care for your senior loved ones and make sure that they are safe and healthy around the clock. Offer to do some research to find a reliable 24 hour home care provider agency and find out more about the benefits of home care for seniors.
-Ask Them What They Would Do Differently
It can be hard not to be offended when it feels like your methods are being attacked, but your siblings might have good suggestions that you can use to make caring for your senior loved ones easier for everyone. Be open to hearing how your siblings would do things differently and make an effort to try the ones that are workable. You never know when an idea you hadn’t thought of might change the game when it comes to caring for your senior loved ones. Caring for your senior loved ones should be a collaborative effort.
-Home Care Services: Suggest All Communications About Care Be In Writing
When you’re dealing with your siblings all of your past arguments and relationship stresses will influence how you perceive each other. That can make people assume hostility, condescension, or judgment where there isn’t any and that can lead to communication problems. If you and your siblings have trouble discussing the care of your senior loved ones productively suggest that all future communication about your senior parents be in writing. Emails, texts, even a group chat on social media can be a more effective way to talk about important things because there will be no negative associations with the text that’s being read.