As your parents continue to age, exploring their future care options is the responsible thing to do as their child. Many older adults develop Alzheimer’s disease or another form of memory-impairing dementia as they age, which can lead you to the conclusion that your aging parents would enjoy a better quality of life in a memory care community. Unfortunately, your siblings may beg to differ, and for a variety of reasons. Here are our recommended solutions on how to approach your siblings about your aging parents moving into memory care, based on the following arguments.
Different Viewpoints on Needs
Adult siblings can sometimes not be on the same page when it comes to their aging parents’ care. For example, while one sibling may argue that their parents require memory care services as soon as possible, another may argue that their parents are doing perfectly fine at home. In such situations, it’s always best to seek out the opinion of an objective third party that both sides can respect the views of, such as their aging parents’ doctor or another type of health professional.
Past Issues Resurfacing
Many immediate families band together to care for their aging parents, taking part in a collaborative style of care as their parents age in place. Unfortunately, this can lead to individual family members regressing to earlier roles, leading to issues such as sibling rivalries resurfacing. When discussing your aging parents’ move to memory care, these family dynamics can make arguments about your parents’ care options messier than ever. If this ever happens to your family, we recommend that you try to be the bigger person in the room and refrain from getting sucked into arguments that don’t meaningfully contribute to the discussion of your parents’ care.
One Sibling as the Main Caregiver
In many families, the division of parental care among their adult children is incredibly unbalanced, with most older adults receiving informal care from only a single child among their children. Hence, one sibling tends to do the most heavy lifting among the children, assuming the role of their parents’ main caregiver. This can eventually breed resentment in said sibling, especially when discussing their parents’ future care options. If you are your parents’ main caregiver, take advantage of the role you currently play in your parents’ care as a reason to explain your point of view when it comes to your parents moving into a memory care community. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to ask your siblings for help with other matters such as paying your parents’ community fees.
Financial Disagreements
Financial disagreements happen between family members when finances become the main focus of the discussion, especially if your loved ones don’t have the funds to pay for memory care services. Open communication is key in these situations, and establishing how much each sibling can contribute helps to set realistic expectations. Additionally, your family may want to explore alternative financing solutions such as Medicare and VA benefits.
Are you searching for memory care community locations for your loved ones with memory loss? Our Memory Care services may be the perfect option for them. Contact us to find out more.
