If you know caregiving is coming in your family, likely for a parent, it may be best to gather interested family members in person or on Zoom to plan ahead.  

If your family can gather, decide who can handle what duties. It is important if the family member needing care can still speak for themselves to discuss end of life wishes, out of home placement if needed, who he/she wants to make financial and medical decisions and if there is money for care. 

Often caregiving falls on one person – usually based on proximity or on personal attributes – for example one family member is very caring by nature. If possible, this person (who often has to give up parts of their lives) should be compensated.  It is helpful to discuss this scenario ahead of time. 

It is important to balance taking care of yourself and caring what your family expects from you. If you have siblings, talk about how to share care so no one person is left carrying it on their own. 

One of the hardest things is if a caregiver feels trapped, alone, and cannot get out of the home. It is important to create options and breaks ahead of time to be proactive to avoid burnout. When families can gather ahead of a crisis and make a plan, caregiving goes much smoother.

If you need help with any of this or general support, please reach out for a free consultation.