Families can grow stronger as they work together to help older relatives.
For example, siblings who share duties and make decisions together tend to:
- Understand and respect older family members' wishes more
- Feel better supported and less stressed
- Feel closer to one another
Family members including older adults can encourage understanding and closeness by:
- Discussing and honoring older family members' wishes
- Making decisions and plans together
- Thinking of themselves as a team
- Taking turns helping or splitting up tasks
- Asking for help when needed
- Recognizing the different ways that others help out
- Understanding how they and others react to stress
- Trying not to take things personally
- Avoiding side conversations that keep others out of the loop
- Spending fun time together
Older adults can also encourage understanding and closeness by:
- Discussing their needs, wishes and priorities with family members
- Being open about what decisions and plans they have made
- Not expecting one person to provide most or all of the help
- Taking part in family meetings
