People exist and have reciprocal roles within a family system, defined by that individual. Roles adjust as the individual members of the family system change and age. The entire family, individually and as a whole, needs support to ensure they are all able to successfully live their good life.
Family, as defined by the person, includes these areas:
Each of these areas impacts BOTH individuals and families and shapes their beliefs and values, as well as their life visions.
Supporting Individuals and Families across the Life Stages
Who cares for and about the person? Who does the person care for and about?
Each one of us has people in our lives that make a difference. They may be family members, friends, or people that are “like family.” Each person fulfills a different role in your life. To truly understand a person and the supports they might need, it is important to know who the people in their lives are and the different roles they play.
As families grow and age, these “reciprocal” roles need to evolve to meet the changing needs of family members. We have to consider the individual’s stage of life, but also where/what stage other family members are in their lives. What happens in early or any stage, affects the stages to come.
The LifeCourse Tools are designed to help you think about the person within the content of their family and community. The Person Centered Foundational Tools are for any person to use, either on their own or with people who support or care about them. The Family Perspective tools are for families to use to think about a good life for their family member or for the entire family.
Hear how Ben’s family realized the important role Ben plays in other people’s lives.
Each one of us has people in our lives that make a difference. They may be family members, friends or people that are “like family.” They could live in your house with you, down the street or miles away. It could be your childhood best friend, a close cousin, or maybe someone you sit next to at your favorite restaurant. Each person fulfills a different role in your life. This principle highlights the importance of understanding who these people are and the impact they have on you and that you have on them. To truly understand a person and the supports they might need, it is important to know who the people in their life are and the different roles they play.
There are two LifeCourse tools that will help you map relationships. The Reciprocal Roles Tool will help identify the roles people play in each other’s lives. The Mapping Relationships Tool helps identify the important people in your life and the different ways they provide support. These two tools can be used by anyone at any age to develop a plan on supporting a person as their needs change or the caregivers’ needs change.
Share Love, Affection, and Trust
Trusted people that you may or may not spend a lot of time with but you care about and love each other. These are people such as immediate or extended family, close friends, significant others.
Spend Time and Create Memories Together
Friends and acquaintances that you spend time with and are important to you. You have shared experiences and memories that bring you both joy and laughter.
Know About Personal Interests, Traditions, and Cultures
People you trust to explain to others what is important to you. Such as what makes you happy or sad, who is important to you, and your likes and dislikes. They also know about your habits, important family culture, and celebrations.
Below are the two tools to help identify the relationships and roles for your LifeCourse journey.
The Mapping Relationships tool will help you identify the different people and ways that they support you. Some of the people in your life might fulfill a lot of different roles while others might have only one significant role. It can help you have conversations about the future and who may fill those roles when others are no longer able.
The Reciprocal Roles tool will help you identify the people in your life and ways they support you. It also helps you explore ways that you support other people and roles you play in their lives. It can identify gaps as well as the potential for building even stronger relationships.