Family meetings are a great tool - they can help family caregivers to delegate tasks and rally support around a loved one in crisis.

1. Family Caregiver Tools:
Planning A Family Meeting

2. Nobody can predict the future, but there are ways to be more
prepared for whatever is in store. And almost nothing is more
crucial in times of family crisis than having the family support
system ready to act.

3. Often times in these situations, the responsibility is taken on by one
family member, or the "matriarch." But this can be a lot for one person
to take on, so the importance of asking for help is crucial.
CareTogether™ is a Website informed by and built for family
caregivers that gives families the tools to not only ask for help, but also
organize these efforts.

4. It is a free and secure online care manager geared toward helping the
upwards of 50 million family caregivers nationwide to organize and
work with friends and family to deliver all aspects of care through
scheduling, messaging, task lists and resources, all so that the family
caregiver can ensure they have all the support they need to provide the
best care possible for their loved one(s).

5. CareTogether™ allows families to create a free, private page with
everything they need to manage the care of their loved one. Family
caregivers can add other family members to their "care team" to help
manage appointments, delegate tasks, post updates and more - all
from one platform.

6. Features of CareTogether
• Easy scheduling and custom task manager
• Journaling and photo sharing
• Post updates to popular social networks
• 24/7 access to live professionals in your loved one’s
community
So what's the first step for mobilizing family members to help take
action? Family meetings are a great tool - they can help family
caregivers to delegate tasks and rally support around a loved one in
crisis.
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors (CSA) has outlined some
guidelines for planning a family meeting:

7. Include all the core family members. Ideally, have everyone get
together in-person. If (a) family member(s) cannot be present
physically, have a conference call so that they are part of the
conversation. If you will be discussing the fate of a loved one, it
may be best not to have them present at the first meeting (to
ensure other family members can discuss this very important topic
openly without fear that they will hurt or scare the loved one).

8. Select a comfortable, neutral and private location for the meeting.
Make sure you find a place in which everyone can feel at ease.
Also, anticipate that the meeting could get heated, so privacy is
key.
Establish the main purpose of the meeting and set a short agenda.
This will help your family stay on-task and organized in addressing
(the) major issue(s) rather than seek to solve every possible issue
in just one meeting.

9. Collect and share information. Surf the Web, check out the
Resources within your CareTogether™ page - gather information to
ensure everyone has the same working knowledge of your loved
one's condition(s) and/or disease(s).
If you don't feel comfortable managing the meeting, bring in a
mediator. Consider enlisting or hiring someone more comfortable
with the mediator role.

10. If you or someone you know need(s) help managing the care of a loved
one, visit www.care-together.com to view a demo of this great new tool
to see how it can help your family. Or, register for your own
CareTogether™ page right away (it's FREE).

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