Resolving Family Conflict

Dealing with cognitive impairment can bring out many strong emotions. As the disease progresses, caregiving issues can often ignite or magnify family conflicts. These strategies can help families cope with the situation together.

Tips for Families

Listen to each family member with respect

• Not everyone reacts in the same way. Family members may have different opinions. Some relatives may deny what is happening
• A long-distance relative may be resented for living far away
• Disagreement about financial and care decisions, especially at the end-of-life

These issues are complex and require ongoing discussions. Give everyone an opportunity to share their opinion and avoid blaming or attacking each other, as this will only cause more hurt.

Discuss caregiving responsibilities

• Make a list of tasks; include how much time, effort and money is projected to complete them
• Divide task according to the family member’s preferences and abilities
• The Alzheimer’s Association online Care Team Calendar can help you coordinate (https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-care-calendar.asp)

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Continue to talk

• Schedule regular meetings or conference calls to keep
• everyone up to date
• Discuss how things are working
• Reassess the needs of the person being cared for

Cope with changes and loss together

• As cognitive abilities change, it’s normal to experience feelings of loss
• Support groups are available in your area (https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-support-groups.asp)
• Join the online message board (https://www.alzconnected.org/)

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Seek outside help
If tensions and disagreements are ongoing, you may want to seek help from a trusted third party, such as a spiritual leader, mediator or counselor. Sometimes, an outside perspective can help everyone take a step back and work through the difficult issues.

To schedule a Family Meeting or to get professional resource referrals, contact Next Step Senior Care Inc at  
[email protected], 949-573-8504.

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The content on this page is taken from https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-family-conflicts.asp