Tips for Caregivers of Divorced Parents

If you are a Caregiver taking care of aging divorced parents, you know the challenges of trying to make everyone happy. With competing demands from both parents, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to meet everyone’s needs. However, there are some things Caregivers can do to make the situation a little easier. Here are some tips to help make things a little bit easier.

Set boundaries with both parents: Caregivers should explain what they are able and willing to do. You should also make it clear that you cannot do everything. It may be beneficial to ask a family member or sibling to assist with taking care of day-to-day tasks so you are not expected to do everything.

Split up the work: As a Caregiver, you know how essential it is to spend time with your aging client, make sure you are dividing your time amongst your parents equally ensuring each parent receives some individual attention. If there is a day you are not able to get to your other parent, request for assistance from the family member or sibling designated to help for the day. This way no one feels overwhelmed.

Make a Schedule and Stick To It: If there are multiple people providing support to your aging divorced parents be sure to make a schedule and stick to it. Make sure that everyone is on the same page when creating the schedule to ensure your parents are cared for at all times.

Communicate: If there are multiple family members or siblings assisting with caring for your aging parents, be sure to communicate with them about caregiving responsibilities so everyone remains on the same page for care. It may be beneficial to start a group chat.

Rest and Relax: While taking care of your aging divorced parents, caregivers should also include personal time to take care of themselves. Make sure to schedule some time for rest and relaxation. By taking these steps, Caregivers can help reduce personal stress and create a more manageable situation.

Taking care of aging divorced parents can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Hopefully, by using some of the tips provided, it’ll be possible to make things a little bit easier. I hope these tips have been helpful and wish you all the best as you continue to care for your loved ones.

Are you a Caregiver for a loved one who is incarcerated? Are you trying to find ways to cope? Check out my podcast to learn tips on how Caregivers can manage all of this!

The caregiver’s job is a difficult one with many new realities and hardships such as incarceration.

Often they need to perform as both mother and father to a child with a parent in prison, teaching skills and caring for them in ways the absent parent would have done as well as showing up for the loved one in prison.

So how can they cope with all of this? I share a couple of tips to help in this episode.

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Parents and Divorce: Protecting Your Kids in Case You Die

Protecting your children after your death is vital. Generally, if one parent dies, the other assumes full legal and physical custody without any issues. If both parents perish, a will can determine custody. What happens when a divorced parent passes away?

Divorce can be messy. Not everyone has an amicable co-parenting situation. Sometimes divorced parents don’t share custody of children equally for safety reasons. Sometimes an absent parent is unable or unwilling to parent effectively. Sometimes an absent parent does not have the proper home or income to be a full time custodian.

In the cases where an absent parent is not the ideal primary care giver, it may make sense to create documentation to legally support your custody wishes. It may also make sense to put fiscal parameters in place to support your children financially no matter who has physical custody.

If you can’t support the idea of an ex having primary custody for valid reasons – not simply due to disliking them – you can make a guardian recommendation in your last will and testament. Be sure to list and provide evidence why you are naming the guardian and make sure your will is notarized and that the guardian has their own copy. If your decision is contested, your child may be appointed an attorney to represent them in a custody hearing.

Often times a grandparent will be named as successor guardian. It is important to know that while grandparents are vital for the development and support of a child, there are no built-in grandparent rights. It is important that you take steps to name the people you desire to have access to your children in the event of your death and advocate for their relationship via your will. This will carry great weight with the court.

You may also safeguard your assets and financial support for your children by naming a guardian or fiscal payee other than your ex-spouse to manage funds and make financial decisions on your behalf. Your attorney or financial planner will have information about how to set up a trust or other fiduciary protection.

If you are divorced and do not have a positive relationship with your ex, it is important to safeguard your wishes and protect your child if you die. Take steps to secure their custody and financial stability so you can rest easy knowing they are well cared for.

Your Disabled Child Will Benefit from These Estate-Planning Tips

One of the biggest fears that parents of disabled adults face is not knowing who will care for their children when they die. Parenting disabled adults is a life-long commitment. Safety measures are in place that allows parents to make legal and medical decisions for their adult children despite them being over the age of eighteen.

In some states, a conservatorship or guardianship is the legal means that parents have to give consent for medical treatment, housing authority, and helping their children access whatever they need. Protecting this legal authority is important. Without it there is no authority for giving consent and many disabled adults lack the cognition to give informed consent.

If you are the parent of a disabled adult child, you and your child will benefit from these tips:

Tip #1. Find a successor guardian- Naming a successor guardian is a simple legal task. Taking the initiative to name a successor guardian while you are alive will streamline the process and prevent a break in protection for your adult child. Often times a successor may be an adult sibling or a secondary relative though being related is not a requirement.

Tip #2. Access resources in your community- Many disabled adults have resources available to them such as regional centers. These resources may be able to help with accessing attorneys or other programs that can help protect and serve your adult disabled child.

Tip #3. Begin to think about housing- If your adult disabled child has been living with you, it may be time to explore options outside of your home. There are often group settings or shared housing options available or perhaps there are family members ready to assist. Making a plan before you need it will help make transitions smoother.

Tip #4. Encourage as much independence as possible- Your adult disabled child may have opportunities for employment or social activities through the Opportunity Center or other programs. Foster as much independence as possible while protecting and honoring their limitations. Helping your child be as independent as possible will serve them when you can not be there as their primary care provider.

Families supporting an adult disabled child face unique circumstances in long-range planning. Finding the right support system and getting things in place for when you are unable to manage their care will make things easier when the time comes.

Finishing Well – Don’t Leave Things Unsaid with Those You Love

Moving through life, we bump up against people and situations that bruise. Being offended, hurt, and misunderstood takes a toll on friendships and family. Before long, time has gone by and it’s just normal to be disconnected. Sure, regret pops up from time to time and memories of how things were or could have been creep into your thoughts.

Why not take action to make things right?

Once someone is gone there’s not much that can be done to undo what’s been done. Up until then, there’s much that can be done – forgiving, moving forward, and beginning anew.

We all want to finish well. To come to the end worn out and having used everything we were given before our time comes. This should include repairing and restoring relationships whenever possible. Of course, there are times when people are too toxic to engage with but for the most part there’s nothing too far gone that can’t be revitalized with effort.

If you are at odds with someone and really want to recapture your relationship, it’s a great time to do some planning and reach out. Here are some simple ideas for repairing relationships and making sure nothing is left unsaid with those you love.

Idea: Get some counseling. Sometimes an issue has festered for so long it is a wound that can’t seem to heal. This may be a good time to get outside help. Working through your feelings can help you sort them out and a neutral counselor can help you see all sides of a situation, not just the side that justifies your negativity. Once you’ve worked things out you may be in a place to revive your relationship.

Idea: Ask for forgiveness. Sometimes we do things that hurt others. We all make mistakes and blunders and people are caught in the crossfire. Relationships can become fractured and friendships lost because of something we have done or said. If you are repentant and want forgiveness, ask for it. Own your mistake and ask for grace and a chance to make things right. Say what needs to be said to make things better.

Idea: Offer forgiveness. In the same way we make mistakes, others hurt us too. Offering forgiveness and compassion can change things from uncomfortable to finding common ground. Even if the other person isn’t sorry for their offense, offering forgiveness can leave things in a better space than they were.

Finish well and make sure there’s nothing left unsaid with those you love. Be willing to open up and have tough talks and loving talks that create bonds and come from a place of love.