It's All Relative

Family members can be our greatest helpers - or our biggest obstacles!

Tension can build quickly if it feels as though the responsibility for care is being unfairly distributed among siblings. If you live closest, you might feel as if the caring role has been imposed upon you. One sibling may have always been meek; another may have always been argumentative. Long-held family roles can make this time difficult to navigate. Add a brother-in-law or sister-in-law to the mix and emotions can run high.

To avoid dissent, communicate early on about expectations and realistic contributions. It is true that other siblings’ commitments, geographic locations and financial situations can impact their ability to contribute the way you hoped they would. Everyone needs to put their wants and abilities on the table. 

Where to Find Support

• The Family Caregiver Alliance offers valuable resources for connecting with support groups at caregiver.org
• AARP connects family caregivers online at aarp.org
• The Alzheimer’s Association offers support groups, research and other resources at alz.org or via its Helpline anytime of the day or night at 1-800-272-3900

 Secrets No One Told You About Family Caregiving