When a caregiving crisis occurs within a family, it can bring family members close together or drive them apart. As demands increase, caregivers may find it difficult to balance the tasks of caregiving with the needs of their own lives.

Many families have unrealistic expectations regarding the primary caregiver. They may expect the caregiver to juggle many hours filled with mental, emotional, physical, or financial stress without help. This is often due to poor communication or a lack of understanding about the caregiving situation and how much "hidden stress" it can cause.

Some common reasons for family conflict in caregiving situations are:

• Disagreement regarding the primary caregiver's actions.
• Financial issues.
• Lack of support or unwillingness to accept support.
• Denial of severity of the care-receiver's needs.

When conflict occurs, a family meeting can be helpful in working out disagreements. If possible, include the care-receiver in this meeting to listen to, acknowledge, and incorporate his or her needs and preferences whenever that is feasible.

Some tips for a family meeting:

• State the purpose of the meeting in advance, and stick to the topic.
• Give everyone a chance to speak.
• Allow only one person to speak at a time—no interrupting.
• Be respectful of the feelings and opinions of others.
• Prepare a written plan so everyone can refer back to it.
• Practice good communication skills.
• Set a date for a future meeting to evaluate how the plan is working and make revisions if necessary.

The primary caregiver should list tasks that need to be done and where help is needed. Begin by brainstorming ways to accomplish the tasks and choose the best options.