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How to Talk to Family When You Can No Longer Provide Senior Care

November 1, 2023

As a caregiver, being responsible for the well-being and happiness of your loved one can come with a wide range of emotions. It’s a rewarding role, but providing senior care can come with challenges.

If you’re the primary caregiver of a family member, you’ve given much of your time and effort toward making sure that your loved one is able to enjoy the highest quality of life possible. 

But what happens when you’re no longer to provide senior care? More importantly, how do you start this conversation with family members and openly discuss the next steps of finding the right level of care for your loved one?

At Franciscan Ministries, our assisted living communities in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio support older adults and families, providing home-like environments that deliver exceptional care every day. If you’re realizing that you are no longer able to provide senior care for someone you love, we’re sharing tips for openly discussing this matter with family so you can find senior care options that can help your family member continue to live joyfully.

Accept and Acknowledge Your Feelings

Many caregivers reach a breaking point after serving as the primary caregiver for a family member. This is nothing to be ashamed of, but it can bring up a myriad of challenging emotions and feelings.

Whether you’ve neglected self-care and are facing caregiver burnout, stress, or guilt, or you’re simply unable to balance a demanding career or personal life along with your caregiving responsibilities, it’s essential to be kind to yourself as you begin to acknowledge your reasonings for being unable to provide senior care. 

By being honest with yourself about your limits and abilities, you’re allowing your family member to find the level of care they deserve and need to thrive and live happily.

Maintain a Positive Mindset

Caregiving creates strong bonds between the person providing and receiving care, especially if it’s your parent or a close relative. As mentioned previously, this can lead to feelings of guilt when you’re no longer able to provide senior care. 

Perhaps your family member has reached a point where they require additional assistance that you aren’t qualified to provide, or you simply don’t have the extra time to offer the full spectrum of care that they need for them to live comfortably and joyfully.

It’s important to note that by researching professional care services, like Franciscan Communities, you’ll quickly find that deciding you’re unable to continue providing senior care is the best possible option for your loved one’s health and well-being. When you reframe your thoughts and maintain a positive mindset, you can better understand how this decision will benefit your family member in the long run.

Start the Conversation

Once you’ve come to terms with your decision, it’s time to start the conversation with other family members. This might bring about some complex family dynamics, and you might already be anticipating feelings of resentment or disappointment from certain members of your family. 

However, it’s crucial to avoid bringing up past issues or arguments during this time and avoid both making or responding directly to personal remarks that could be hurtful. 

Stand firmly in your decision and remind yourself and your family members that this is the best possible option for yourself and for your loved one’s health, safety, and well-being. 

If the conversation begins to take a negative turn, ask your loved ones to place themselves in your shoes for a moment. Make sure they ultimately understand that your loved one should not receive senior care from someone who doesn’t have the ability or time to provide the support they deserve.

Discuss Options

After this initial conversation, you and your family must come together to find other care solutions for your loved one. Assisted living communities are excellent options for older adults who want to maintain their independence while receiving the helping hand they need to thrive.

At Franciscan Ministries, assisted living means living joyfully and pursuing the lifestyle that each individual desires and deserves. Our communities stand out from the rest in the variety of services, engagement, and fulfillment that our team provides for residents each and every day.

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To learn more about our assisted living communities in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, visit our website or contact a member of the Franciscan Ministries team.