bers of your family to deal with
their emotions. Remember
that there is no right or wrong
way to how anyone feels.
• Be able to forgive. If something
is said or done in the heat of
the moment, and the person
apologizes, open your heart
to forgive them and move on.
Don’t hold a grudge.
• Likewise, be prepared to apologize
when you say or do
something you shouldn’t have
or that you later regret. An
apology can go a long way in
making a bad situation better.
It’s important to sound sincere
and genuine. Your sibling is
much less likely to stay angry
with you if they hear that you
truly are sorry.
• Be willing to let go of some
things. Is your stubbornness
only getting in the way of being
able to resolve the argument?
Where can you practice
some give and take?
• Get additional help. If arguments
continue to escalate and
do not get resolved, it may be
time to call in an expert. There
are Geriatric Care Managers,
Elder Care Mediators, Social
Workers, Counsellors, and
Health Care Navigators who
will be able to provide an unbiased
opinion and recommendations
for what would be best
for your parent.
Remember that at the end
of the day, arguing with a family
member rarely solves anything.
Try to reconcile what you really
want for your parent with what
you can live with. What are the
things that you are willing to negotiate?
Try to work together as a
team to overcome the challenges.
Keep your parent at the center of
all decisions. It is sad when families
bicker and can’t get along.
The last thing your mom or dad
probably wants is for their family
to fall apart, all because of them.
This information is provided as a
service by Takacs McGinnis Elder
Care Law, PLLC, an elder law,
estate planning, and Life Care
Planning firm that helps families
throughout Tennessee respond with
confidence to the legal, financial,
and personal challenges presented
by advanced age, chronic illness,
and disability. For more information,
visit www.tn-elderlaw.com or
call 615.824.2571.
NOTE: Information contained herein
may contain general explanations
of laws. It should not be considered as
legal advice. Please seek counsel from
an attorney regarding legal planning.
Healthy Living | Winter Issue | 2017–2018 41