Do You Trust Me?

When Caregivers Have to Make Difficult Decisions for Their Parents

When was the last time you were faced with making a tough decision? What do you remember feeling? Were you nervous? Tense? Anxious? What about hesitant? Whether the decision is about a change in career, a long distance move, a financial investment, or grappling with the idea of starting a family, decision making can be tough. It becomes much more difficult when making choices on behalf of another person who is under your care.

Decision making is a task that is all too familiar to family caregivers. Even though we feel honored to care for our loved one, it doesn’t take away from the stress that comes with the responsibility. Even making relatively “small” decisions can seem overwhelming at times, when we consider the impact it could have on the care recipient.

With the day to day uncertainties of caregiving, we know one thing that has been – and always will be – a consistent factor, and that’s decision making. So what should you do? 

Let’s start with the basics. 

• Don’t rush. Set aside time to think. First, get a good understanding of the situation your loved one is in. Then ask yourself tough questions. What research is required? What alternative options are available? Which option would my loved one prefer if they were able to make this decision? Once you’ve done your research, take the time to fully understand the pros and cons that will stem from your decision. 

• Talk about it. Communicate with your loved one while they are in good health (if possible) to understand their preferences regarding their care. If your loved one is still cognitively and physically stable when the decision needs to be made, involve them in the process as much as possible. This increases trust and lessens resistance from your loved one. 

• Talk about it some more. Discuss things with people you trust (i.e. family friends or a support group), or consult with a professional. Gather as much information as you can from others who have been in similar situations, or who are knowledgeable about the subject.  

• Take some of the pressure off. Ask yourself this: “Are you doing your best under the given circumstances?” If the answer is “yes,” allow your best to be your standard. You don’t have to be perfect; striving for such is a recipe for added pressure. 

• Understand that you won’t always get it right the first time. This may sound silly, but the difficulty in making a life-changing decision is just that—to actually make the decision. Once you’ve done all that you can to prepare yourself, take the plunge and make the call. If you make a mistake, it’s okay. You’re human. That’s what humans do. Rectify the situation if you can; if you can’t, work on forgiving yourself. Making a bad decision doesn’t make you a bad person, and it shouldn’t affect your self-worth.  

The truth is that tough decisions lie ahead for all of us, regardless of our season of life. The art to decision making is finding a good balance between your loved one’s needs and your ability to fulfill those needs. So remember, educate yourself, know your limit, and be empowered! 

Chelsea McWhorter

Chelsea is a caregiver options counselor at CICOA, where she coaches family caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities who need intermittent or long-term support services. Chelsea holds a degree in sociology from the University of Georgia and currently is working on a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Chelsea’s passion is to help individuals find healthy ways to cope with life’s stressors so they can live peaceful, complete, safe and whole.