Providing care for an Elderly Parent: Interactions among siblings



Abstract

Parents are a person's source of existence. Revolution in health and medicine has increased life spans and subsequently increased number of aging population. Providing care to aging parents has become an important task today. The challenges confronted in the process can be shared among siblings. This article aims to elaborate siblings' interactions in providing care. Equity theory ensures that each sibling contributes a fair share and promotes better relations among the siblings.

Introduction1

Discussion3

Sibling interactions3

Gender Differences4

Motivations for Care4

Flail Obligations5

a)Theory of Reciprocity5

b)Parent-Child relationship as a friend5

c)Parents' Need6

d)An assumed Promise6

e)Special Good6

Making Decisions7

a)Home-Health Aide7

b)Assisted-living Community8

c)Family members8

Analytic frameworks for modeling interaction between siblings9

a)Siblings care giving decision9

b)Understanding and interpreting care arrangements9

Conflicts10

a)Disagreements10

b)Disruptions10

c)Perception of Parental Differentiation11

Inequity in Parent care among siblings11

Elder care resources12

a)How to navigate the elder care journey12

b)Health Care Resources13

c)Assisted Living Facility13

d)Legal Help13

Conclusion14

References16

Providing Care for an Elderly Parent: Interactions among Siblings

Introduction

Caring an Elderly Parent is a commendable instance of behavior that is seen in human beings. In this era of information technology, with exceedingly busy schedules and fast life styles, caring has become difficult. Parents which give birth to their young ones and safeguard them throughout their growth period need them when they are old and weak. In the US, despite of the fact that quality old homes are present that offer social-care services, the need of caring an Elderly parent cannot be denied. According to estimated figures, more than 22 million Americans are caregivers to any of their elderly family member, and the figure has been increasing (Platt 2003)

This responsibility is often on the shoulders of adult children. Many of aged people find it difficult to establish harmony between caring an Elderly Parent and their jobs and career (Yeandle and Buckner 2007). Moreover, family values and inter-family relations also decide that how this task will be conducted. Incases where there are two or more siblings, there needs to be a balance and equality in distribution of care giving, so that each sibling participates equally.

The emergence of social care services and old homes has remarkably affected adult children's decisions and priorities. Though in many societies adult children feel it a responsibility and an obligation to provide care to their parents; this matter is still influenced by the communication process among siblings and their parents (Finch and Mason, 1990). It was reported in a study that the best indicator of sense of caring for the parents is a well established parent child relationship (Stuifbergen, van Delden and Dykstra, 2008). In he mentioned study, authors have discussed five theories of flial obligations that lead to parent care. The theories are later discussed in this paper. Out of these five theories, two of them refer to parent-child relationship as stron predictor of parent care.

Many of the studies done in last two decades conclude that in the task of caring an elderly parent usually one sibling participates more than others (Cicirelli, 1992; Suitor & Pillemer, 1996). This may lead to significant distress to that siblings and may provoke resentment among the ...