If you’re functioning as an elderly caregiver for an aging relative, you are far from being alone. According to a National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP study, nearly 48 million Americans are providing care to an adult family member, and roughly 61 percent of those are also working full-time or part-time.
For many working caregivers, balancing these two worlds can be a challenge. After all, caregiver support is essential to ensuring your loved one’s health and well-being, while your career is likely the foundation for your financial stability and perhaps even your sense of fulfillment and purpose. How can you juggle caregiver support with your day-to-day job responsibilities? Read on to get our tried-and-true tips for working caregivers.
Be Realistic with Your Caregiver Support Availability
Setting realistic expectations is crucial when you’re balancing caregiver support with a job. Caregivers should acknowledge that they can’t do it all and, as a result, some things will have to be deprioritized, especially the less important and less urgent tasks. Acknowledging your limitations can also help you to prevent burnout over the long term.
To get started, realistically assess how many hours you can comfortably devote to providing caregiver support each week, and when considering taking on new responsibilities, be realistic about the time and energy they will require.
Create and Stick to a Schedule
Once you’ve assessed your availability as an elderly caregiver, setting up a weekly schedule and sticking to it closely can go a long way toward minimizing stress. Identifying gaps where you may need to rely on friends, extended family, or caregiver services also helps to prevent overextending yourself. Caregivers should plan ahead to streamline their routines and reserve appropriate time for work and caregiving.
Remember to also set aside meaningful personal time for yourself, too. When creating your schedule, be sure to consider things like doctor’s appointments, workday meetings, and refilling and administering medications.
Speak Up When You Feel Overwhelmed
If you’re an elderly caregiver, open communication with your employer is critical to prevent misunderstandings. If your employer is aware of your caregiver support responsibilities, you may be able to work together to establish a more flexible schedule. In addition, you may want to consider options like remote work, paid leave, Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST), or the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides eligible employees of covered employers with job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons.
Seek Out Additional Support
It’s important for elderly caregivers to establish a support network. By connecting with other caregivers, you can share information, resources, emotional support, and practical tips with one another. Seek community resources and find out if your company has an employee support group for working caregivers.
You might also consider Arise’s caregiver support, which is geared toward caregivers who have been trying to do it on their own but who are struggling. Our experts offer phone support, in-home consultations, and coaching, and we also host events. Connect with us on Facebook for information on upcoming events.
Set Boundaries
It may feel uncomfortable at first, but caregivers should not be afraid to say no. In fact, being able to set boundaries is critical to ensuring long-term success when juggling caregiver support and career. Reflect on your own needs and determine which things you are willing to do and which other things you are not willing to or cannot accomplish on your own. Clearly separate your work time from your caregiving time and remember that you also need to prioritize self-care.
Talk to the Caregiving Experts
Remember that you don’t have to navigate aging and in-home care alone. Consider hiring a caregiving services expert to assist with day-to-day responsibilities, navigating insurance, and care coordination.
At Arise Cares, we understand how important, overwhelming, and deeply personal caregiving can be. Our experienced, trained, and compassionate caregivers are carefully matched with your loved one based on your needs. Contact us today so we can help you create a customized care plan that’s right for you.