If you’re one of several caregivers juggling this role, coordination is key. With a few clear strategies and tools, your caregiving team can stay aligned, supportive and focused on what matters most: your loved one’s well-being.
Caring for a loved one is a responsibility that often falls not on one person, but a group—most commonly siblings of an aging parent or close family members. While shared caregiving can lighten the load, it can also introduce challenges: confusion about responsibilities, missed appointments and even disagreements about what's best for your loved one.
If you’re one of several caregivers juggling this role, coordination is key. With a few clear strategies and tools, your caregiving team can stay aligned, supportive and focused on what matters most: your loved one’s well-being.
Start with a Caregiving Team Meeting
Before jumping into a routine, schedule a team meeting with everyone involved in caregiving. This meeting can be in-person or virtual, but it should have a clear agenda:
- Define your loved one’s current needs (medical, financial, emotional, environmental)
- Clarify each caregiver’s availability and preferred tasks
- Set expectations for communication and decision-making
Make sure the conversation is compassionate and respectful. People often have different comfort levels with caregiving tasks, and that’s okay. A sibling who lives far away may not be able to provide day-to-day help but could assist with paperwork or bills.
Create a Shared Calendar or Care Plan
Keeping track of appointments, medication schedules and rotating responsibilities is a common source of miscommunication. One of the best solutions is to use a shared digital calendar or caregiving app. Some tools to consider include:
- Google Calendar: Free and easy to share among family members
- CaringBridge or Lotsa Helping Hands: Designed for caregiving coordination
- CareZone or Medisafe: Useful for medication tracking and reminders
Update the calendar with doctor visits, errands, medication refill dates and who is responsible for each task. This keeps everyone informed, and helps avoid accidental duplication or gaps in care.
Delegate Responsibilities Based on Strengths
Not everyone in the family needs to do the same tasks. Play to each person’s strengths:
- A detail-oriented sibling might manage medications or coordinate medical appointments
- Someone with flexible hours may handle transportation or meal prep
- A sibling who lives farther away could handle finances, insurance or checking in by phone
Make these roles official during your planning process to prevent misunderstandings later.
Hold Regular Check-Ins
Even after your initial planning meeting, ongoing communication is essential. Consider holding a monthly team check-in call or video meeting. This gives caregivers a chance to:
- Discuss changes in your loved one’s health or behavior
- Adjust responsibilities as needed
- Talk through any frustrations or concerns before they build up
Keep the tone supportive and collaborative. These meetings are about keeping the care plan on track—not assigning blame.
Keep a Central Record of Care
Whether it’s a physical binder or a shared cloud folder, having one centralized location for important documents can prevent confusion. Include:
- Emergency contacts
- Medication lists and doses
- Doctor names and recent visit notes
- Power of attorney and legal paperwork
- Schedules and checklists
This is especially helpful if someone needs to step in at the last minute or if a medical emergency occurs.
Splitting caregiving duties doesn’t have to feel chaotic or competitive. With shared communication, defined roles and a little structure, family caregiving can be a coordinated effort that draws loved ones together rather than pushing them apart. After all, the best care happens when everyone is working with the same goal in mind.