So many individuals in their fifties and early sixties deal with aging parents. By middle age you’ve mastered your careers, parenting, and your relationships. You even enjoy your own parents and their involvement with your children. However, as your parents continue to grow old everything changes.
Life seemed full and manageable just a few years ago. You looked forward to traveling more and enjoying your time as empty nesters. Now it’s as if you have young children all over again. This time caring for someone doesn’t hold the promise it once did. There’s simply no good end to this story.
Many of you find yourselves responsible for aging parents. Either they struggle with a debilitating disease in which they need constant assistance, or they struggle financially and now live with you.
Siblings can complicate caring for your aged parents. Suddenly fighting breaks out over where your parents should live or who cares for them. Family members vying for control over how their parents spend out their last dollar. The conflict gets ugly fast.
You thought you had this all figured out. For example, your parents didn’t want to live in a nursing home, so you want them to live with you, however, your brother doesn’t want to help with the care giving. Or maybe, your sister thinks all the money should be relinquished so that your parents qualify for Medicaid. Just a few of the very complicated scenarios facing “the sandwich generation.”
Family members fight about aging parents. The one common feature in highly conflictual situations is that the conflict usually doesn’t end well. Sometimes, siblings don’t speak to each other after the death of the last parent. The pressures are huge. Interacting with each other in a rational manner without one or all of you becoming extremely upset no longer exists.
How can family consultation help with these issues? Consultation can bring you together to talk about and come to agreements on what needs to happen. Each person comes to an understanding of how things are going to progress. No one individual possesses complete control. Instead, you reach mutually agreed upon decisions. This gets everyone off the hook.
If you would like to set up a consultation with Dr. Goschi don’t hesitate to call her at (312)595-1787 or email her at barbara@drgoschi.com. I look forward to helping the healing process begin.