Working a job while full-time caring for a loved one means finding a healthy work-life balance is an overwhelming task. If you’re in this situation, “balance” isn’t even on your radar.
Please know you are not alone. Millions experience the daily grind of working a job while caring for an aging elder or a family member with a disability. That number continues to grow as at-home care costs skyrocket.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Talk to your supervisor about what flexibility your job may offer. Can you change the hours you work? How about a compressed workweek? Is working from home or job sharing an option? Can you use sick leave to care for an elder? Are extended leaves of absence available? (In most cases, yes, the Family Medical Leave Act.) Don’t automatically believe there are no workable solutions. You never know until you ask.
- Check into your job’s employee assistance program. Many companies offer resources for individuals in your situation, like live elder care counselors, to help you navigate your day-to-day life of work and full-time caregiving.
- See what resources are available in your community. Many communities offer respite care to give you a much-needed break. Ask around for agencies who can help you with medical support, housekeeping, meal preparation or delivery, recovery care … the list goes on. Some states even provide stipends for at-home caregivers. The Eldercare Locator is a good place to start.
- Find and participate in a support group. Your first thought may be, “Where would I find time to go to a support group?” That may be true, but finding encouragement from others in your situation can motivate you to better serve your loved one in this difficult season. Support groups are a safe place to share your feelings and get answers to questions. And you can be there for others in the group as well.
- Let friends and family members know you need help. You can’t do this alone. You need help. It’s critical to put in place a support network, a mental list of people you can call in an emergency or to just give you a much-needed break. You’ll need to let down your guard, show people your vulnerability. A good place to start is to put down on paper what exactly you need help with.
November is National Family Caregivers Month. Today we celebrate you as an unsung hero in our community. We honor the essential work you do and the devotion you provide to aging elders, family members with a disability, or wounded, ill, or injured veterans.
For more information and resources, visit the Caregiver Action Network.
