How to Manage Conflicts with Other Family Members as the Primary Family Caregiver

During your time as a family caregiver, you're not going to agree with all of your family members in every situation. Some may have some very distinctive ideas about your loved one's care and they may have quite a bit to say to you about it.

Figure out What You Do Agree On

Usually even if you're in serious disagreement with your other family members over a specific aspect of your loved one's care, there are at least some aspects that you can agree on. Figuring out what you do agree about can give you some leverage and some common ground on which you can build a solution.

Figure out What You Can Let Go Of

Some of the aspects of what you and your other family members disagree on may be aspects that aren't really all that important to the actual disagreement. Once you find the common ground, you're more likely going to be able to spot the things you can let go of for now. Being willing to let go of some aspects on your side can help other family members be more willing to compromise, too.

Talk to Your Family Members about the Actual Issue

When you get down to the base issue, that's what you need to be focusing on. All of the extraneous issues should be gone by now and you can openly and honestly talk about what the base disagreement is. If it's that your other family members don't understand the need for senior care providers, you can give them facts to support your case rather than having to defend what you do all day long.

Find Solutions that You Can Both Live With

In the end, it's important to try to find solutions that you and your other family members can agree on, even if neither of you are completely happy. In some cases, you might want to enact some of these solutions on a trial basis so that all parties can experience how the solution works in practice.

If your other family members aren't interested in dealing with your conflicts, you may have to agree to disagree.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Grand Ledge, MI, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Lansing. Call today: 517-332-9953.