When Family doesn’t Agree on Aging Family Care
Whether you are caring for an aging parent or providing care for a loved one, it can be overwhelming. The decisions that need to be made are often complicated and emotional. Compromise is not always easy, but it does happen. If your family does not agree on how to care for an aging parent, you need to stop and think.
When we care deeply about someone, we often put their needs before our own, even when it is not good for us or them in the long run.
Many caregiving responsibilities can be difficult to manage. Caring for someone who is ill is demanding and time-consuming work, even when you have a well-defined plan for how to proceed. Many caregivers suffer from burnout, resulting in depression and physical symptoms like high blood pressure or difficulty sleeping. Self Care is very important in the process of caring for a loved one. You can't take care of someone when you are “on empty. “It will eventually catch up to you, and that helps no one. It is best to reach out to other family members, home care, or explore other options.
You're right, you do not have to do this alone. But that doesn't mean your decision should be forced on the rest of the family.
If you're in a situation where your family disagrees on what to do, it's essential to understand that you are NOT alone. Many people have a parent they love and fear losing but aren't sure what to do about it. If this describes your situation and you need help getting some perspective or support from others who have been through similar situations, there are many resources for you.
Agreeing on a plan for an aging parent is not about winning or losing; it's about what's best for everyone involved.
No matter how hard you try, there's no way to make everyone happy in a situation like this. As lovely as it would be for every family member to be totally on board with your plan, there will always be disagreements about your aging parent's best course of action.
However, despite the inevitably contentious nature of the conversation, it's worth remembering that agreeing on a plan is more important than winning or losing. In other words, getting everyone on board with whatever decisions you make (even if they don't agree with everything) is worth celebrating!
Not everyone will get along all the time, and that is ok. And sometimes, it is a little easier said than done.
Compromise is not always easy. When it comes to your aging parent, you may find that family members have different opinions on how to handle caregiving, which may lead to arguments. Some family members may be more involved in the caregiving process than others—or one person may be more willing to help with the caregiving process than another.
It can be difficult for everyone involved if there are disagreements about how things should be handled. You will want everyone on board so you can all make decisions together that are best suited for your parent's needs and preferences, but this isn't always easy!
Conclusion
In the end, it is about your aging loved one’s best interest. This is not always easy, but sometimes things like this take time and patience, so don't get discouraged if things don't go according to plan right away.