caring for an elderly parent when you are an only child

Being an only child can mean that there is extra pressure on you when your parents age and become unable to look after themselves.

Without a sibling, the entire burden of looking after a parent falls on your shoulders and the feeling that you have to make all of the decisions about the care of your parent by yourself can be extremely overwhelming, but there are positives to be found in that. We’ll consider what these benefits are when it comes to making the decision about whether home care services are right for your parent.

Less Conflict

Decisions about when it is the right time to approach a home care provider and indeed, which one to choose once you do agree that the time is right, can be extremely emotive. It has been known to cause significant strains on relationships between siblings that only increase the pain of the process.

As an only child, you can at least know that you won’t have to worry about conflict with others and that the decision can be all yours. The decision process can be overwhelming, so make sure you have a trusted friend or partner on hand who you can talk things through with and who can support you through the change.

Necessity Can Make The Decision Easier

Caring for a parent by yourself can be incredibly tough, both physically and emotionally. It can force a decision about finding respite care as sole carers struggle to balance all of their commitments. The decision to seek help in caring for your parent is a difficult one to make and when there are siblings involved it can be tempting to try and struggle through it together.

When necessity forces the decision it can help to remove your stress and ensure that your loved one is given the professional care that they need. Remember, The Great Care Company is always on hand to help in any way that you need us to, from respite care to emergency care, we are there to support you and your loved one.