AARP Interview: How to Cope When You Are Caregiving for Someone You (Really!) Don’t Get Along With
It was my pleasure to be interviewed by Bruce Horovitz for this AARP article that discusses a difficult topic in a field of already challenging topics – that of caring for someone you don’t like. Yes, it happens more than we think. Below is the introduction to the article, which you can finish on the AARP website.
Expert advice on navigating caregiving dynamics with empathy and emotional detachment
By Bruce Horovitz, AARP
Liam Eisenberg
Caregiving for a family member is tough enough when you adore them. But how can you succeed as a caregiver when you feel ambivalent or struggle to tolerate their presence? Whether it’s your mother, father, sibling or spouse, the reasons behind those feelings — perhaps rooted in neglect, unethical behavior or even abuse — may reach way back to your childhood and still flash in your head and heart.
There are ways to deal with the situation, but most require you to stop, think, and reframe how you look at things. AARP asked three authors who have written books on the complexities of geriatric caregiving to offer practical tips on actions you can take to make the caregiving go a little easier.
