What If Your Siblings Are Hesitant About A Senior Care Facility For A Parent?
When it becomes difficult for you and your siblings to provide the care that your elderly parent need, finding a senior care facility might seem like the best option. If your siblings do not agree, family arguments could ensue and your parent could miss out on getting the care that he or she needs. Unless you have the legal right to solely make decisions about your parent's care, you will need to work with your siblings to determine what is best. To help you with talking to your siblings about your parent's care, here are some tips.
Attend Mediation
If you and your siblings are to the point that discussions about your parent's care seems impossible, now might be the time to involve a mediator. A mediator is a trained professional who is unbiased. The mediator will work with your siblings and you to reach a middle ground about your parent's care. Even if middle ground does not include moving your parent to a facility, you can at least get on the same page about his or her care.
When choosing a mediator, look for someone who has experience in dealing with family disputes. You can likely find one with an online search or through the local court system. It is important to remember that if you and your siblings are not comfortable with the decisions that are made in mediation, you can essentially back out and start over.
Tour the Facilities
Your siblings' hesitation about moving your parent to a senior care facility might lie in preconceived notions that he or she has about how it is to live there. The easiest way to overcome that challenge is to schedule tours at facilities that you and your parent have considered. Your siblings will get to see in-person what type of environment your parent will live in if he or she moves to the facility.
Touring the facility also gives your siblings a chance to ask questions about the care your parent would receive, the activities he or she could participate in, and the visitation. To make sure the visit goes smoothly, contact the facility before visiting. The facility director can likely ensure that a guide is available for your family to talk to.
Working with your siblings to determine the best care for your parent can take time and effort. With patience, you can help your siblings understand why a senior care is right for your parent. Check out sites like http://www.vvrconline.org to get started.