I am taking care of relatives who are in declining health.
Providing care for relatives in poor health can exhaust your mental  and physical reserves, deplete your finances, and limit the time you  spend with your spouse and/or children. A little teamwork can help you  handle this situation.

The  Solution
 

• Work together: Sit down with your spouse and examine what you can do to improve your quality of life while insuring proper care for your relative.

 

• Ask for help: "Can  other relatives or friends be enlisted to help care for the relatives so that you have some time to rest?" Kinzley suggests.

 

• Hire help: "Can you  afford to hire part-time help to lighten your load? Can the  relatives afford to move to an assisted living center? If not, can  the couple and other family members pool their resources and pay for an assisted living center?" Kinzley asks.
   
   

 

• Plan ahead: Resolving these issues now for your relative will ultimately help you handle your own situation, should you or your spouse need assistance in the  future.