Have you ever argued with a sibling, your spouse or other family member about the best approach for taking care of your loved one? This is a common situation for family caregivers and, if not handled properly, may make everyone involved feel angry and drained.

When it comes to an aging, sick or disabled parent, old sibling issues can bubble to the surface. It is easy to fall into childhood roles, such as “the smart one,” “the goof off,” or “daddy’s favorite” to name a few. But those roles don’t benefit anyone and often serve as road blocks to making important care decisions.

One proactive approach is to set up “caregiving rules” for your family with input from all your siblings and possibly even your loved one, depending on their state. Brainstorm ways that you will handle disagreements in care. This is also a good time to determine what kinds of decisions can be made by the primary caregiver without input from the group.

Your Caregiving Journey: Helping You Help Aging Relatives is a channel on blogtalkradio.com that is dedicated to family caregivers.

Your Caregiving Journey, with Denise Brown, delves into discussions about caregiving situations. Each week, Denise tackles a topic related to the challenges of eldercare.

To listen to Denise Brown’s presentations on caregiving topics, please visit www.blogtalkradio.com/caregiving. You can also visit Denise’s blog for caregivers at www.caregiving.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/caregiving.

Grieve for your losses. It’s okay to feel sad and angry. It’s okay to cry. You might be grieving because you’ve lost your loved one. Or you might be grieving because of what you’ve given up to become a caregiver.

But you should know that this isn’t an end; it is a beginning. If you’ve lost your loved one, you can treasure the times you had together and begin to dream new dreams.

If you’re grieving your loss of independence, know that there are resources out there to help you both provide care and pursue your dreams.

So grieve for your losses; this is how we move on from tragedy and live our best life.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. It is a good time to assess your loved one’s relationship with alcohol, as well as your own.

Did you know that an estimated 80,000 of this country's nearly eight million alcoholics are seniors? Problem drinking in seniors often goes undiagnosed because people become more sheltered as they age.

Also, doctors may associate the symptoms of alcoholism with old age, including falls, loss of appetite, failing memory, sleep problems, or depression. Watch for signs in your loved one and work with a counselor to manage the situation.

Family caregivers themselves can also experience problem drinking. When a caregiver feels overwhelmed and does not take time to refresh and regroup, he or she may experience caregiver burnout. Caregiver burnout can lead to depression and even problems with alcohol.

Have you tried out Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Wipes? They just might be a caregiver’s new best friend! These wipes come in handy when you need to clean your loved one’s face, as a hand cleaner while traveling, and with toilet paper to make sure your loved one is extra clean and comfortable.

These wipes are also completely flushable because they are made from wood pulp and water, which are common, biodegradable ingredients. For best flushability, the manufacturer recommends that consumers use one to two wipes per flush.

Don’t worry about your Cottonelle Wipes drying out. Unopened packages have a long shelf life and stay moist up to two years. Furthermore, they are alcohol free, and they contain aloe and vitamin E to keep your loved one’s skin smooth.