Emotions will flair up and everyone will be frustrated. Setting goals and rules in the beginning will not stop these moments from occurring, but can y decrease the amount of times they may occur. One of the goals of the first family meeting is to develop a "team" approach to the ongoing care giving process. If, at this time, there are any unpleasant family interactions, this is the time to be firm and strong. Request that everyone put their differences aside for the goal of providing care to your parent or spouse. The first meeting agenda may address three or four issues or concerns. This is the time to ask every one involved to ask what they consider important to them. This is also the time to ask everyone what tasks and responsibilities they will take on for the duration. We suggest that you ask someone to be the secretary to take notes and send them via snail mail or email to everyone. Make sure that everyone has a task or job and a time frame that that task must be completed. Before you end your first meeting makes sure everyone brings their calendar so that you can schedule the next meeting.
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The primary candidate is often determined by gender, culture, birth order, or by marriage. Historically, the other family members and friends of dementia care givers take the role and the stress that the primary care giver endures for granted. Regularly scheduled, ongoing family meetings give the primary caregiver the ability to relay to the family the importance of everyone participating in the care. Elder care meetings can improve the communications between family members; help keep the family informed on the ongoing and future concerns of future health care needs. It is important to approach your family meeting in a planned and business like manner. This approach can prevent having to manage arising situations by family members feeling in crisis and very emotional. Your first eldercare meeting should have identified goals and rules. These will be for everyone involved, family and friends. This may be an uncomfortable first step, but setting rules is very important. The topics of conversation can become unpleasant and heated.