Caring for an older parent or loved one can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. On one hand, caring for your loved one can help create a closer connection. It can be fulfilling to give back to your aging loved one or parents.
But on the other hand, finding the time to focus on your own family and maintain a work-life balance on top of family caregiving responsibilities can feel impossible. In fact, around 67% of family caregivers report having difficulty balancing caregiving and work responsibilities.
However, the outlook isn't all doom and gloom. There are several ways to manage your responsibilities and regain control over your life and schedule. In this article, we'll consider steps you can take to reduce stress and meet your loved ones' needs while excelling in the workplace.
Five Ways to Balance a Career With Caregiving Responsibilities
We understand that everyone's caregiving situation is different. Regardless of your specific challenges, there are five steps you can take that may help, at the very least, organize your to-do list and mind, giving you more time to spend as you wish each day.
Before we dive into the steps, one thing you may want to consider is if your loved one has Long-Term Care Insurance. LTC Insurance policies can help with all sorts of long-term care expenses, including home care and home modifications. If you need help filing a claim, LTC News can help.
If your loved one does not have Long-Term Care Insurance already, then don’t stress, there are still plenty of other resources and methods to navigate caregiving responsibilities and work.
ONE: Organize and Prioritize Your Tasks
Caregiving can give us a seemingly endless list of things to do, especially when taking care of our own families and careers at the same time.
One way to combat this is to make a to-do list. Write down everything on your mind in no particular order. From there, you can start ranking and organizing the tasks in order of priority or schedule days to complete each task.
It may also help to keep all of your older family members' documents, belongings, or reminders in one place. Losing track of documents or medications can be easier than you'd think. By storing everything together, you won't have to worry about tearing the house apart to find an essential item.
TWO: Utilize Your Support Networks
Some people may be able to utilize their support network to help with caregiving responsibilities. For example, if you're caring for your aging parent, you may want to reach out to your siblings or other family members for help.
Obviously, this won't work for every family, but if you have the option, it's worth a shot, even if it feels embarrassing or uncomfortable to reach out for help.
Other family members may not be able to provide as much help as you, but they may be more willing than you think to take on smaller responsibilities.
For instance, maybe one of your long-distance family members can start giving your loved one regular call check-ins to take some of the social burden off of you. Other family members may be able to contribute a small amount of money towards care costs for your loved one as well.
If other family members live in the area, you could work out a schedule for taking your loved one to appointments. If they're not comfortable with doctor visits, then you may be able to work something out with chores or groceries. For example, one family member could help your aging parents mow their lawn or grocery shop for them.
Regardless of how much help your support network can offer, any amount of assistance can make a difference over time. Getting your family involved in care will not only reduce the responsibility on you but could also help bring your family closer together.
THREE: Discuss Options With Work
Once you've considered and determined what your needs are and how much help you'll have from family, it's time to let work know about your situation.
It can be terrifying approaching your employer with sensitive information, but remember, as long as you take a collected and direct approach, your employer is more than likely to understand and be empathetic.
At the beginning of your conversation, it's key to communicate how much your career and job mean to you. Make sure to highlight the things you love about your position and the areas you're still looking to grow with the company. This will show your boss that you're still dedicated and eager to continue working with them.
Next, you'll want to bring the caregiving situation to their awareness. There's no need to go into extreme detail on the situation, but you will want to let your employer know how it could affect your work schedule or hours.
For example, if your loved one has regular appointments during working hours, you may want to let them know that you'll need to leave early some days to take them to the appointments or that you’re looking for more flexible hours.
When asking for work schedule changes or using more time off, you may also want to ask your employer if it would be possible to make up missed hours by coming in an hour early or staying late some days (if that's something you're interested in).
If your job is one that could be done remotely, consider asking about partial work-from-home or remote work options. If you believe your caregiving responsibilities are going to cut into your working hours consistently, then it may not hurt to ask your employer to move down to part-time hours.
By addressing your needs and offering solutions, you'll show your employer that while your situation is changing, you're still dedicated to the position and loyal to the company.
FOUR: Set Boundaries With Your Loved One and Work
Another often overlooked aspect of caregiving is setting boundaries. We have no control over the situations that happen with our aging loved ones, but we do have control over how we react and respond to them.
Setting clear boundaries can look different for everyone. For example, if you have a demanding job that requires work outside of typical hours, you may request advance notice of extra hours or let your employers know you will not be able to respond to work duties outside of hours.
It's equally important to set boundaries with your loved ones, especially if it's something they’ve struggled with in the past. For instance, you can let your loved one know that during work hours, you won't be able to respond to their texts or calls unless it's an emergency but that you're happy to talk outside of work hours.
Boundaries help protect you from caregiver burnout and keep your mental health in tact. They let others know that while you're there for them, you need to show up for yourself too.
FIVE: Don’t Forget About Self-Care and Stress Management
Last but not least, incorporating stress management techniques and habits into your routine can be life-changing.
For some people, getting a therapist or counselor to discuss problems can help. There are also caregiver support groups available to join where you can discuss your experiences and connect with others about theirs. This could help you feel less alone in your struggles and may offer creative solutions to common caregiving problems.
Others may need to cut out an hour or two of their week to do something recharging. This could include anything from seeing a friend regularly to participating in relaxing hobbies.
Still, other people may find they have a lot of frustration and stress they need to get out. Exercising regularly, whether through group sports activities or going for runs or walks, can be a great outlet for excess energy.
If you’re struggling to find the time to practice self-care, you may want to consider respite care. Respite care is when a professional or volunteer caretaker temporarily steps in to provide regular family caregivers relief from their responsibilities.
Respite care can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks and can include both facility or home care services. It gives informal caregivers the time they need to relax, recharge, and collect their thoughts. You can use LTC News’s Care Directory to find respite care services near you or your loved one.
Regardless of how you get your stress out, maintaining your personal life outside of caregiving and work responsibilities is crucial to your mental and emotional well-being.
There Are Laws in Place To Protect You
If your employer doesn't allow a flexible schedule or changes in hours, you may be able to get some assistance from federal employee assistance programs designed to help people with caregiving duties.
Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) is a federal act from the U.S. Department of Labor that provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave per year for individuals working at companies with 50 or more employees.
Individuals with the following circumstances are eligible for this benefit:
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A newborn child
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Child adoption or foster needs
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Caring for an immediate family member due to a health condition
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Experiencing a medical condition that prevents them from work
FMLA leave can help individuals get the time off they need without risking their job security. For more information, you should visit the Family and Medical Leave Act website or consult an FMLA expert with specific questions.
Paid Family and Medical Leave
In addition to the federal unpaid leave program, some states and companies offer paid leave programs. These states include:
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California
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Colorado
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Connecticut
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Delaware
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District of Columbia
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Maine
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Maryland
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Massachusetts
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New Jersey
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New York
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Oregon
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Rhode Island
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Washington
Most of these programs use a weekly benefit pay to continue compensation during the worker's leave. Some employers may also offer paid leave programs, regardless of whether they reside in these states or not.
These paid programs may have different requirements than those previously mentioned in the unpaid care program. However, most of these programs include coverage for family caregivers caring for a loved one with a serious health condition.
Consider the Best Option for Both You and Your Loved One
There are some circumstances where, despite our best efforts and intentions, caring for older adults on our own or even with the help of family isn't possible. If this resonates, you may need to consider other options for your loved one like professional caregiver services.
One of the biggest barriers to entry for professional caregiving services is the cost; luckily, there are options to cover the cost of long-term care.
The second barrier is the conversation with your loved one about their growing care needs. Many of our loved ones are used to living life in a certain way, and when their care needs grow to an unmanageable extent, it can be difficult for them to come to terms with their circumstances.
The best way to approach the situation is through logic and empathy. Point out the tangible challenges and dangers of the situation and reassure them that you love them and are supporting them. Highlight the benefits of a change to their situation, such as opportunities to meet more like-minded people in the community, fewer house responsibilities, and reduced stress levels around accidents or falls.
No matter the situation, remember that professional caregivers and assistance are available and accessible. Community and in-home care services are more popular than ever today, and not all types of professional help or care services need to be expensive or scary. What's most important is choosing an option that works well for you and keeps your loved one safe.
If you need help finding long-term care near you or your loved one, you can use LTC News’s Care Directory tool to find high-quality care facilities and caregivers. This tool has compiled thousands of care options from all over the U.S. into one place so you can find the best option for your loved one.
The
Care Directory
Comprehensive caregiving & care facility listings in your area
- Find and contact facilities near you
- Every major care and facility type
- View facility ratings and amenities
- Find quality care for you or a loved one
How to Manage a Career While Caring for a Loved One?
Navigating the stress of a career and caregiving responsibilities is no easy task, to say the least. However, with proper planning, organization, and communication with family and work, you can conquer these challenges and excel in both areas.
When discussing your caregiving situation with work, it's critical to communicate that while your needs are changing, you're still dedicated to your job. Many employers have steps and policies in place to handle these situations so you can meet the needs of your loved one while keeping your position at the company.
Remember, there are a plethora of options for long-term care, whether that means getting your family or support network involved in informal caregiving tasks or starting professional services. There's no wrong answer.
Long-term care is a nuanced issue; luckily, several online tools can help you learn more and make the best decision for you or your loved one. We've included a few resources to guide you below:
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Caregiving 101: Types of Caregiving and Selecting a Caregiver – If you’re considering getting a professional caregiver to help with caregiving responsibilities, then this article can help you narrow down what type of caregiver you’ll need.
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Assisted Living Facilities vs. Nursing Homes: What’s The Difference? – We’ve all heard of nursing homes, but how are they different from other types of care facilities? Assisted living facilities are growing in popularity as a facility option for individuals who wish to live a more independent lifestyle. In this article, we’ll explain how these facilities differ and how either one may be able to help your loved one get the care they need.
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What Is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)? – Continuing care retirement communities allow residents to move freely between different levels of care as their needs change. In this article, you can learn more about how that process works and if a CCRC might work for your loved one.