Risk-free, no obligation consultation

Blog

How to Work Together With Reluctant Siblings for Better Senior Care

August 10, 2023
Two mature women are sitting on a sofa having a serious discussion about how to provide better senior care for an older parent.

Learn how to work with siblings to ensure a fair distribution of care duties for better senior care.


If you are in charge of the majority of the care for senior parents while your brothers and sisters distance themselves from assisting, you are far from alone. In fact, half of all family caregivers are caring for an aging loved one alone, based on a recent report from AARP.

Understanding why this situation is so prevalent – and what you can do to safeguard your own personal health, which can easily be affected by caring for a senior loved one independently – is critical. Our aging care professionals have the answers to ensure better senior care for your parents and a healthier balance of caregiving responsibilities between you and your siblings.

Why Aren’t My Siblings Helping More With Caring for Our Parents – and What Can I Do About It?

  • They are afraid or uncomfortable. For a person who has never provided care for a senior family member, it can be truly overwhelming.
    • What you can do: Ask them to follow you for a day to help increase confidence with the particular duties that they are not comfortable with. A bit of hands-on training tends to make a big difference.
  • They don’t realize their help is needed. It may be that from the outside looking in, you have everything covered and running smoothly, and you are not in need of their assistance.
    • What you can do: Have a truthful, open conversation explaining the stress you are under. Ask your siblings as well as other family members to visit during a time of higher intensity care needs, like when you are making dinner and then helping your parents get ready for bed, and enlist their help to help them to see firsthand how many tasks are involved.
  • They don’t know what to do to help. Although it may seem intuitive to simply jump in and meet your parents’ needs, this is not the situation for everybody.
    • What you can do: Create a list of specific tasks that you could use assistance with, along with the times and days that help and support are necessary, and ask for volunteers.

How Can Home Care Help?

At Home Matters Caregiving, our professional caregivers are always here to work with you to meet the care needs of senior loved ones with professionalism, compassion, and dedication. Reach out to us at 800-298-5140 and learn how you can ensure better senior care for your parents, as well as a better quality of life for yourself as well. To see if our services are available in your area, visit our Locations page.

Share this article
About the author

Tyler Williams

As an Area Owner and Operator of a Home Matters Caregiving franchise, I am committed to ensuring exceptional outcomes for our valued clients and caregivers. My passion for elevating our service quality is matched by my role as a blogger and social media manager for the franchise, where I share insights, updates, and foster community engagement. Prior to senior care, I used my strategic communication and brand development skills as the Marketing Director of a regional bank. My diverse experience supports my commitment to excellence and innovation in both healthcare and digital communication.
Related Posts

Looking for Senior Care Franchise?

Home Matters Caregiving

Customer care
5.0

Based on 340 Google reviews

“I love how supportive and dependable Home Matters was for my Grandmother during the time we had their services. Their caregivers are dependable and very attentive to their clients!”
Tiffany C
“We had some hiccups with another agency and then found Home Matters through a friend! They made sure we were heard and their scheduling team is very communicative! Very happy with HMC!”
Joshua Clasberry
“I am so grateful. All staff members were friendly, courteous and kind. I would recommend them to everyone that needs help in their home! They are rock stars!!!”
Kathleen Light
“Home Matters Caregiving has been taking care of my mother full time now for over 3 years. They are committed to helping people and always work hard to find the best caregivers possible.”
Pam Knell