Recognize that people are caregivers in different ways. Should you force them to help? No, but be specific in your requests. Remember to never demand that help be given. If your siblings refuse your requests for help, accept it. But, don’t accept the idea that you are alone. Look to the community for help and for support.

The only way you’ll be successful in managing this experience is if you take time for yourself, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. When you take regular breaks, you can cope with the stresses, the decisions and the responsibilities. Otherwise, the situation can become unbearable–for you, your senior, and your family. Caring At Home provides many resources to help you determine what you want and need each week.

As a family caregiver you are obligated to provide a safe and healthy living environment for your senior. And, you are obligated to protect your senior from abuse–physical, emotional or financial. A durable power of attorney for health care, in addition to a living will, is a powerful legal and health care document that allows a responsible party to make financial and health care decisions on behalf of a family member or friend if that family member or friend is no longer able to make such decisions.

Family caregivers often encounter huge obstacles in finding, keeping, providing and affording quality care. Recognize that caregiving may not be easy and that perfect solutions do not exist. Get good at making compromises and try to work within the system’s limitations. Continue to ask for help. Keep an open mind about which services and organizations may be helpful. Listen to your senior’s suggestions. And, accept help in whatever form it arrives.