April 10 is National Sibling Day. When it comes to caring for Mom and Dad, siblings can either form a strong care team or can be the cause of conflict. Understanding each sibling’s role and having the family caregiving conversation earlier rather than later can help make the caregiver journey a smooth ride for all family members.

There is another side to siblings and caregiving: a study found that 18 percent of those caring for someone over age 75 were siblings caring for siblings. And, caring for young adults with disabilities or chronic conditions tend to be managed by siblings and are longer-term and more intensive.

Read our articles from CEO Sherri Snelling about siblings and caregiving:

The Sibling Caregiver – originally published on PBS Next Avenue

Also, read Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s new book, Where the Light Gets In – Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again, about how she, her father and her siblings formed a cohesive care team for her mom with dementia: