How does the family caregiving process usually start and how can we make it go smoothly?
You may step into the role of caring for a relative with significant health needs because of a crisis such as a fall, heart attack, stroke or accident, or because of escalating memory or behavioral problems. Your loved one’s family, which has been molded by routines and roles that have been solidified with time, might be in a state of disorganization, even chaos in the early stages of caregiving, notes Carolyn McIntyre, LCSW-R, CEAP. The “normal” ways the family has taken care of itself can no longer continue, and new roles will emerge. First, the siblings and spouse of the loved one begin to sort through who is available to provide care. This phase can go smoothly if all are in agreement about who is going to take on more responsibility, but it may involve conflict. Longstanding family tensions may surface, says McIntyre. Still, it’s crucial that family members ask themselves: What does our loved one need? You shouldn’t underestimate the challenge. The best outcome occurs when everyon
