Hi Chealsea here with solution for seniors podcast.

Before I get started, I want to thank Home Helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring Solutions for senior podcast. If you or your loved ones are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at homehelpershomecare.com/Kankakee

On this week’s episode I’m going to be talking how to share caregiving responsibilities with another family member. Weather you share the responsibilities with a grandparent, parent, sibling, cousin or even a family friend its possible. Today for reference I’m going to be talking about sharing the responsibilities with a sibling while helping your aging parents, but you can use this for whatever your current caregiving situation is.

Are you suddenly in a position where your aging parent needs care and you and your siblings are struggling with how to manage caregiving duties? While it can be difficult to figure out a system that will work for your family, once you create a plan that includes everyone, the burden will be lighter for all involved. Getting organized with a schedule will help avoid your aging parent going without any care that they are needing, it will also help avoid any conflict with your siblings. Caring for an aging loved one should not negatively affect any relationships in your life with your parents, siblings or family.

Define the Caregiving Tasks. Let’s face it. There is always going to be one sibling who lives closer or has more free time – or can makes more free time – who will more than likely take the leadership role. That doesn’t mean that person has to do everything all alone. If you don’t stop to figure out what needs to be done, you’ll always be plugging holes. So, first thing, stop and make a list of everything that needs to be done for your parent. You should set up a timeline that you, your siblings and parents should revisit the list of care needs to that you are making sure that all care needs are being met whether big or small.

While you make take some task and your sibling may take other tasks, make sure to have open communication and access to any hired service’s just in case you or your sibling cannot be available.

Choosing Your Caregiver Roles, this is the hard part. Everyone wants to take on the “easy” tasks like booking appointments or managing meal services, but you’ll all need to do some of the dirty work. The good news is many hands equals less work on each person.

There is no right or wrong way to work together for your parent’s care. Do what works best for your family. And remember, you are family. While it can be difficult working together and old rivalries tend to resurface, remind yourself that you are family and are doing this for your loved one. There will come a time when your services will no longer be needed, and your siblings will be the family you have left. I hope this helps you and your siblings make the best caregiving decisions for your aging parents and yourself.

Again, I would like to thank home helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring Solutions for senior’s podcast. If you or your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/kankakee

Thank you so much for joining me this week. Come back next week to talk about another common challenge we all face while helping an aging loved one. Stay safe and well.