Balancing Full-Time Work & Caring for an Older Parent

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How to Manage Caregiving While Also Working in Tucson, AZ

Your senior loved one’s needs come first, but you also need to earn a paycheck to support your family. Being a caregiver and working at the same time may often feel like you’re trying to keep too many balls in the air. Although there will be some challenging moments, you can keep them to a minimum by following these guidelines for managing your caregiver role while you continue to work.

Put Together an Organizational System

Family caregivers who also work have pretty busy schedules. Start keeping track of every business meeting, health appointment, and birthday by using a calendar. Your organizational system may also need to include a set of files you can use to keep up with medical records and other types of paperwork. Staying organized makes it easier to avoid wasting time searching for information, and you can use your system to share information with your loved one’s other caregivers.

Brush Up on Your Employee Benefits

Balancing work and family needs is easier when you know what benefits are in place to help you out. Give your company’s current employee handbook a read to find out how much vacation and sick time you may have available as a caregiver. You may also find information about other policies that are in place for people who are caring for someone who’s having health issues.

Create a Backup Plan for Work

When your loved one has serious health problems, you could be called away from work at a moment’s notice. There may also be some days when your loved one is too sick for you to leave him or her at home alone. Talk to your boss and coworkers to figure out how you can manage sudden times away. For instance, you may need to have a coworker who’s willing to cover your shift during an absence. Alternatively, you might be able to manage some of your work responsibilities remotely or come in to the office on the weekend. Planning for these times now can relieve stress later.

Hiring a professional caregiver can ease many of these types of worries. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality at-home care, Tucson Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.

Put Together a Caregiving Team

Viewing your role as a caregiver as a job that requires assistance helps you avoid feeling burned out or resentful. Speak with your other family members to see what they can do to help. Even if they can only provide assistance with one or two things, that’s still less falling on your list of duties. Professional caregivers are another option to include on your team. Unlike family members, they’ll never debate whether they should come help. Instead, they’ll show up on time so you can get what you need done completed.

Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted homecare provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.

Remember You Still Need Time Off

Before you became a caregiver, you had days you took off from work to help you rejuvenate your mind and body. Now, it may be more difficult to find time for yourself. Make sure to schedule time for a break at least once a week to avoid getting burned out by managing two important roles.

Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs 24-hour care, Tucson, AZ, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home. To learn more about our reliable, compassionate in-home care services, contact us at (520) 276-6555 today.

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