While you might hope that other family members would be completely supportive of how you care for your elderly family member all the time, that’s not necessarily the case. How you cope with that lack of support greatly matters, especially if you plan to continue being a caregiver.

Try Not to Take it Personally

It’s really difficult sometimes to remember that when family members aren’t supportive or positive that they’re not about you. They may be phrased in such a way that it sounds as if they’re about you, but they really aren’t. Those types of comments and lack of support say far more about the attitude of the person who originates them.

Remember that You Don’t Have to Do Everything Yourself

When you’re not getting the support that you need from other family members, you might start to feel as if you have to do more and more. But you’re only one person. Even if you do have some family members offering to help, it may not be enough. Filling in those gaps with senior care providers allows you to have the help that you need without having to worry about hearing less than helpful commentary at the same time.

There’s Usually More than One Solution

As your other family members share with you their opinions, remember that theirs isn’t the only answer. You already know what is working in your situation and they may honestly be offering you help, but that doesn’t make their answer the only viable one. If you start to feel as if you don’t know which answer is right for your senior’s situation, then it’s time to reach out to her medical team and other experts.

Work Little Luxuries into Your Day

Caregiving can be a thankless job and when you’re hearing a lot of criticism that makes it even worse. For your own sake, work some little luxuries into your day. Perhaps you start the day with gourmet coffee before anyone else gets up. Or you might end your day with an uninterrupted bubble bath. Doing both isn’t out of the question, either. The key here is to find ways to pamper and support yourself.

You may find that some family members come around and realize that being supportive to you and your senior family member is important. But some may continue to offer you advice and commentary that isn’t as helpful as you’d like it to be. Having a plan to manage that gives you a way to cope, no matter what.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Ashburn, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 982-0050.