If you are the child of a baby boomer, the stress of providing long-term care for your parents as they age may feel overwhelming. Older adults often require caregiving essentials, including medication, housing, adult day care, and special mobility accommodations among other things.
This process may be further complicated if you split the costs between siblings. The attorneys at Gaslowitz Frankel LLC, who have been the leading trust and estate litigation attorneys for the state of Georgia for over three decades, have seen how quickly parent care can drive a wedge between siblings. “Often, one sibling may feel they have been taking on the brunt of the emotional and financial costs of caring for a parent,” says Founding Partner Adam Gaslowitz. “Over time, this may lead to resentment between siblings.”
Those who must care for their parents and desire to preserve their familial relationships should seek professional advice. If a compromise is impossible to reach within a family, an estate mediator may be the best option.
Related Article: Planning for Long-Term Care While Protecting Your Estate
5 Tips for Splitting Parental Care Costs Between Siblings
The best way to ensure that your parents are taken care of without breaking family ties is to encourage open and honest communication while creating a plan. Below are our top tips for families.
Related Article: Do I Need Long-Term Care Insurance?
Have Frequent Communications
Schedule a time to speak with your siblings regularly to discuss updates about your parent’s care. This frequent communication keeps all parties informed of any emotional or financial changes. Open communication is the best way to ensure that everyone involved feels included and heard.
Keep Documentation
Many siblings may be surprised by the amount of money their parents have set aside for their care. Be sure to gather together all the necessary documentation about arrangements your parents have already made for their care.
Additionally, documentation of all decisions made and agreed upon can help to clarify responsibilities down the road. Siblings should keep a record of all expenses and receipts, that all siblings can easily access.
Consider Proportional Contributions
Often, different siblings will be able to make different contributions. One sibling may live physically closer to the parents, another sibling may have more time to contribute, while another may have more finances available to them. Each sibling should discuss what they are able to contribute to their parents’ care.
Ask the Parents for Their Input
It is important to remember that the goal is for parents to feel comfortable and accommodated as they enter a new stage of their lives. Seek their input about their unique needs and desires.
Consider Hiring a Litigation Attorney
If siblings encounter disagreements that they are unable to resolve on their own, or if they believe that one of the siblings has failed in their agreed upon duties, an attorney can present the family with alternative dispute resolution and litigation options.
The estate litigation attorneys at Gaslowitz Frankel have the compassion and experience to guide families towards understanding their legal options and making the best decisions for their future. Gaslowitz Frankel LLC has the passion and authority required to deliver clients with their ideal outcomes.
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