Do you remember how hard it could be when you were young to learn the lesson of sharing with your sisters and brothers? Even though the incredible importance of thinking of other people’s feelings, as well as being fair, was impressed upon us while very young, it may still be a hurdle to reduce sibling squabbles with regards to challenging decisions we cope with in adulthood – such as how to fairly divide caregiving needs for our aging parents.
Gregory French, president-elect of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, explains, “What a family member considers ‘fair’ is very much dictated from that family member’s perspective…there’s a lot of family baggage that comes out, like: ‘Mom paid for your MBA, and she didn’t do that for me.’”
These tricks can help family members reach an arrangement on the most fair division of care for a senior loved one in Iowa:
- Recruit the aid of a mediator. Sitting down with the help of a respected third party professional, such as an attorney or financial planner with an area of expertise in elder issues, could go a long way towards trying to keep the discussion on track and advancing to the best resolution.
- Give some thought to hands-on care help vs. expenses. Dividing up caregiving duties fairly ought to include a discussion on how much time each sibling can dedicate to providing care in the home, and how much financial care can be supplied. For instance, a sibling dwelling in close proximity to the loved one may donate more time but reduced financial support versus an individual who resides in another state.
- Document the conversation. Putting everything in writing makes sure that everybody is on the same page, and allows for the chance to go back and go over what was decided upon later if a disagreement should occur.
Above all, agree to put aside any residual childhood dynamics in order to really come together to supply the highest quality of care and attention possible.
Advanced Home Healthcare helps families maintain a healthy life balance through the professional in-home care services for older persons that provide families with peace of mind in knowing their aging loved one is in the best of hands. Working with Advanced Home Healthcare also means that families can spend even more quality time together, while our professional and knowledgeable care providers assist with a few of the more routine aspects of care, such as cleaning, doing the laundry, meal preparation, running errands like grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions, and much more. Call us at 800.791.7785 for details on our Mt. Pleasant home care services. See our full service area here.
