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How to Juggle Work and Caregiving
Duties
Thanks to better healthcare and information about nutrition and
healthy diets, people are living longer and this means a
growing population of seniors. With the increase of seniors
comes an increase in Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke,
Parkinson's disease and many other ailments that normally
strike that age set. Not only do these illnesses prove
debilitating to the person but the ripple effect extends to the
family who now must take care of them. There are millions of
people who are trying to juggle a career with children, their
ailing loved one's caregiving and other obligations.
You may seem alone in your caregiving duties but many studies
show that at least 25% of all households in the country are
caring for an ill loved one, usually a parent 55 years of age
or older. These loved ones either need full-time caregiving,
daily assistance for everyday tasks or somewhere in
between.
About 40% of caregivers in this country work outside the home
so this means they are sacrificing their free, relaxation time
to care for a loved one and are even losing quality time with
their spouse and children. Work productivity goes down because
of time off from the job to devote to caregiving, a reduction
of hours or even having to quit altogether.
This leads to loss of income and less money being invested in
their retirements. You may be part of this group who is playing
juggler too. While there is legal acts like the Family Medical
Leave Act which helps keep your job secure (if unpaid) when you
need to take time off to tend to the caregiving of a loved
one.
If you are a juggler and feeling increasingly tired of all the
obligations, there is a wealth of community resources available
to help you in your quest to provide the best care possible for
your loved one. From casual arrangements with neighbors, family
and friends to structured care in nursing facilities, there are
many options available to you.
Assessing your Loved One's Caregiving
Needs
Examine your daily schedule to see where you need help the most
when caring for your loved one. Is it while you are at work?
Perhaps you have obligations in the evenings with your kids and
need help during that time. Know up front what you need before
enlisting help. Also, you need to consider what type of care
your loved one will need. Do they need 24-hour supervision due
to dementia? Can they get around in the home and just need help
with errands and transportation? Do you need other around the
clock nursing care?
Once you have an idea of the type of care your loved one needs
as well as the scheduling, consult with your loved one's
insurance company to see what type of coverage is available for
nursing, caregiving and other services. Long-term care
insurance is usually not included in most regular health plans
so you may have to see what you could afford to supplement the
caregiving.
Finding those Resources
When your caregiving and that of friends and other family is
not quite enough, you can turn to community resources to fill
in the gaps. From in-home care to just daily visits from a home
care companion, there are a number of options - and some even
offer transportation so your work day is not interrupted.
In-home care is usually contracted through an agency,
particularly if your loved one is dealing with an ailment that
requires constant care or specialized training from a nurse or
licensed medical attendant. There are agencies you can go
through if you are hiring a companion for your loved one or you
could even put an ad in the paper and interview candidates.
Adult day cares are an option if you must work and need a daily
outlet for your loved one. These day cares offer everything
from specialized care for dementia patients to activities such
as games, crafts, exercise and more. Some programs serve lunch
and some don’t while others may have pick-up to and from the
home.
When you can no longer handle the caregiving duties on your
own, there are nursing and assisted living facilities,
depending on the level of care needed as well as group homes
when 24-hour specialized care is needed.
You must evaluate your situation from the health of your loved
one to what you can and cannot handle care-wise. Finances and
insurance are also issues that must be dealt with. If you can
plan ahead with your loved one before they get sick or develop
some type of impairment, it will be much better for you later
when you have to deal with it.
Kim is a Registered Nurse working and living in the UK. She
has been nursing for nearly 35 years and now works as a Back
Care Advisor.
Source:
http://www.nursing-hints.com
You are welcome to use this article on your site as long
as you acknowledge the source.
by Kim
Standerline
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