Siblings Not Natural Caregivers? They Can Still Help.
If you’ve taken over caregiver responsibilities because your siblings just aren’t naturally good at it, that doesn’t mean they can’t learn, suggests fellow caregiver Ruth Johnson in The Times News, a North Carolina newspaper. At least maybe they can give you a little respite.
Responding to a female reader who says her brothers aren’t “very adept” caregivers, Johnson advises:
Since your brothers are available but not involved, it’s time to get together with them for a genial conversation about your mother’s care. Few men are naturally adept as caregivers, but they can learn. Certainly, they can take turns sitting with your mother several evenings each week. In time, they may feel comfortable providing care for an entire day.
Johnson also suggests that the brothers could pay for respite care at least one weekend a month.
Do you agree with Johnson that “few men naturally adept at caregiving”?
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
It will never happen to me is correct until it happens to people. Who is effected — the family.
The need is not to protect assets it is about their income stream.
The consequences to the family and whether they have allocated in their income stream sufficient money to potentially pay for long term care or the better way to own an extended care plan in the unlikely event that a person will need care giving services.
It is too late for this family but it is not to late for younger family members to have a plan in place just in case. The person who needs care giving is not effected — it is the family which is effected.
In addition: do estate planning. Have a will, durable powers of attorney and medical power of attorney in place so family members legally know your wishes.
Plan in advance and should a crisis occur: Legal and Financial plans are in place. There is then a plan in place which avoids a crisis which becomes an emotional, physical, and financial melt-down.