How to deal with family conflict caused by alzheimers disease

How to deal with family conflict caused by Alzheimer's Disease
By: Jonathan Acton, Home Instead Senior Care
Sadly, an ill loved one is the number one trigger for family conflict. Coping with the reality of a loved one’s Alzheimer’s not only has its emotional difficulties, but logistical ones as well, especially in terms of decision-making and bearing the responsibility of caregiving.
Despite these challenges, the following tips may help you unite your family around your loved one with Alzheimer’s when that person needs family support the most.
Communicate Regularly. Don’t allow weeks to turn into months and years of not communicating with family members you feel should take a vested interest in your parents’ condition and care. If you’ve fallen out of touch with a member of your family, reach out through a phone call, email, card or letter.

Empathise. Difficult situations affect everyone differently, so try to understand your sibling’s point of view before getting angry or upset. Approaching the issue this way will help you suggest an appropriate solution. Maybe your brother can’t emotionally deal with Mum “losing her mind.” If that’s the case, maybe he can help you by contributing financially to her care instead.

Ask for Help. If you feel over-burdened by the responsibility of caregiving, inform the rest of your family (without complaining or blaming others). Your sibling(s) may assume you’re doing just fine handling everything on your own unless you tell them what challenges you’re facing and specific ways they can help.

Make Decisions Together. Even if you serve as primary caregiver of your parents, involve your sibling(s) when you need to make a major care decision. Maybe you feel Dad’s Alzheimer’s has progressed to a point where he needs additional assistance, and you’re looking into hiring a professional in-home caregiver for him. Talk through the pros, cons, financial considerations and possible alternatives with your siblings before you make a decision.

Leave Childhood Rivalries Behind. Try to approach the issue as the adult you are now, not as the younger person your siblings may still see you as. Stepping back and realising how unresolved issues from long ago influence your present relationships may put a helpful new perspective on your current situation.
.
Only when families work together as a team can their loved ones with Alzheimer’s receive the best love and care possible. For your help and support we have created the Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Companion App as a pocket guide to help get you through all the dementia care situations you likely never dreamed you’d have to face.
You can download this free app now so when you have a question about the best way to handle a situation, you’ll have quick, helpful tips from experts and other caregivers instantly at your fingertips. We also welcome you to visit us at our office in Marlinstown for a chat and a coffee. Alternatively you can call 944 938 5260 or visit www.homeinstead.ie