Even in a large family, the role of caregiver often falls to one sibling. This primary caregiver can sometimes feel alone and overwhelmed which can lead to resentment. Your parent may have chosen your sibling or it may be a matter of geography. Your sibling might be more emotionally able to handle the responsibility or they may be more capable of juggling the logistics of caring for a parent and their own families. It could be a matter of financial stability or available space in their home. Or they may have started with providing help with errands and small tasks that progressed into a full-time caregiver for your parent. Whatever the reason or situation, families need to understand the stress that these primary caregivers feel and understand how you can offer helpful support to your sibling.
Give your time. Offer to help wherever and whenever you can. This may mean giving your family member a break for a weekend or even just an afternoon. Time away will help them refresh or allow them to reconnect with their spouse and children. Primary caregivers on average spend approximately 18-24 hours per week caring for their parent. In comparison, most siblings will only give between two to four hours if they live nearby and even less if they are out of state or far away from their parent. Giving your time to support and ease the burden of responsibility for your sibling should not be underestimated.
Share the burden. In some families, they elect to share the caregiving tasks based on skill set—whether that is emotional support for their parent, managing their personal finances, speaking with medical professionals, or household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping. A task is always easier and more pleasant if you have the patience and skill to complete it. Let your handy brother help with home repairs, accept help from your bookkeeping sister to manage mom’s bills, and allow your assertive sister to speak with the doctors about dad’s health issues. One caution, make sure they everyone is communicating, so no task is overlooked or forgotten. Teamwork can lighten everyone’s load and bring your family closer together.
Be emotionally supportive. We all have the best intentions when it comes to the care of our parents. Try not to be critical of the support and care that your sibling is providing. If your parent is safe and loved, then you should show appreciation for your sibling and withhold criticism. The primary caregiver has a difficult job and deserves your respect.
Financial conflicts. Money is often a cause for conflict among siblings, so try to be upfront and get ahead of this issue. Some caregivers give up their jobs to care for a parent or reduce their work hours. We suggest that if a caregiver is to be financially compensated, this should be formally put into writing. This is called a personal care agreement. This agreement can offer security to a primary caregiver so they do not suffer undue financial consequences when caring for a parent.
When caregiving responsibilities are shared, it can bring your family closer together. Your parent will be better cared for if you work as a team. Be gentle with each other and support each other on this journey.
At Aegis Living we have been caring for seniors and their families for over 20 years. If you have questions about how to navigate shared care giving we would be happy to help. Contact the community nearest you for assistance.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.