Wouldn’t it be nice – or at least, a lot easier – if caregiving was your only full-time responsibility? But for the majority of family caregivers, caregiving is just one (often all-encompassing) role in their already-scheduled-to-the-hilt life. You have family responsibilities as a spouse or a parent. You have responsibilities to you, in terms of caring for yourself. And then, of course, there’s your job – your 40+ hour a week responsibility that enables you to pay your bills.
“It’s no wonder that caregivers are overwhelmed and often feel like they’re burning the candle at both ends,” says Cindy Wirth, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Sudbury, a memory care assisted living community in Sudbury, MA. “It’s estimated that sixty percent of family caregivers work a full-time or part-time job, and it’s anticipated that about half the current workforce will be providing caregiving services to a family member within the next five years.”
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, this makes the juggling even more difficult, says Cindy.
“Dementia caregiving becomes a 24/7 job, and the risk of burnout is incredibly real – even more so when you have a full-time job,” says Cindy. “It’s necessary for you to find ways to balance your life, hand off some responsibilities and provide yourself with some much-needed respite. It’s just as important for you to care for your work life as well as your personal life.”
Here are some ideas for helping find that balance, at work and at home.
Get your schedule in order. Organization is key for keeping all your ducks in a row. Even if you have a photographic memory, this isn’t the time to rely on it in order to make sure everything gets done. Set up a family calendar (Google Calendar is a great tool for this) and invite everyone in your circle so they can view it. Use this online resource to track everything from doctor’s appointments to activities to even daily tasks. This is a great way to delegate tasks and let everyone know what’s happening on what days. Having one central location will make it easy to update, inform and change needed information without having to send a flurry of texts, emails or phone calls.
Look through your employee handbook to see what options are available to you. Many companies have flexible work options, caregiver policies and family leave options that could apply to you. Spend some time looking through your benefits and work policies. You may also wish to speak to an employee relations or human resource representative at your workplace. Chances are good that you are not the first person to go through this – you may be surprised at what options are available to you.
Speak to your manager sooner rather than later. One of the silver linings of a dementia diagnosis is that, because it’s a progressive disease, you have some forewarning and can put plans into place before they’re necessary. As soon as you can, schedule a meeting to speak to your manager about your situation. Even if you like to keep your work life and personal life separate, caregiving is a significant role, and it’s better to let your manager know what’s happening instead of having them wonder why you’re taking off early or are on your phone more often. Be sure to let him or her know that you are totally committed to your job, and come prepared with suggestions for how you can balance your workload along with your caregiver responsibilities.
Look into flexible work policies. Does your company offer a flexible work schedule? Or, even better, is there a chance that you might be able to work remotely from time to time? If your employer offers such a thing, this might be a beneficial option for you. Since most service providers like medical professionals keep traditional working hours, a flexible work schedule enables you to do things like run errands and go to appointments without having to take PTO. Even if your business doesn’t have an official policy on flex schedules, speak to your manager – it may be a case-by-case situation.
Research the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, allows individuals to take up to 12 weeks off every year (unpaid) without risking their job security. There are certain requirements you (and your company) must meet in order for this to apply, so, again, look into your company policies to see what might be available to you. It’s possible that you will need to use some of your PTO or vacation hours before FMLA kicks in, or it’s possible that your company may pay for some time but not others. You don’t have to take all the time off at once, which means that you could stretch it out as needed over several months or even an entire year.
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging. These organizations are excellent resources for all caregivers, whether you work a full-time job or not. It’s a great way to find community resources that are available to you, like adult day cares or meal delivery services.
Do your best to keep work and personal lives separate. While it’s not always completely possible, do your best to take care of your caregiving duties during off-work hours – it will be just one more way of showing your co-workers and managers that you are dedicated to your job. Whenever possible, accomplish tasks before work, during the lunch hour and when you get home after work.
Have a backup buddy (at home and at work). Obviously, life happens when you’re a caregiver, and you may have to rush home even when the big meeting is coming up. Find a trusted co-worker or two who can help you out in a pinch (and be sure to keep them in the loop of everything that’s happening at work so they can seamlessly fill in for you). The same goes for your home life – is there someone you can call to fill in for emergencies if you absolutely have to be at work? A family member, close friend or neighbor can be a lifesaver if someone needs to pick up the kids from practice or watch your loved one for an hour before you get home.
Exceptional Care & Engaging Lifestyle
Bridges® by EPOCH at Sudbury provides exceptional memory care in a comfortable and engaging environment. Designed specifically to support those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, our community delivers a wellness-focused lifestyle that respects individual preferences and abilities. Our teams receive ongoing, specialized training so they may help residents to safely exercise their independence in a secure, calm environment.
Dedicated Memory Care
Our expert dementia care and comprehensive services are tailored to meet the unique needs of our residents, wherever they are on their journey with memory loss. Our life enrichment programs are personalized to residents’ interests and abilities, providing joy and meaning in daily life and enhancing emotional well-being.
Purpose-Built Design
Bridges® by EPOCH at Sudbury is more than a safe, beautiful place to live; it’s truly a home, where compassionate, dementia-educated caregivers help people with memory loss live more fulfilling lives. Our research-based design features soft lighting and colors, non-glare flooring, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life-enrichment stations that empower residents to comfortably move about their home with confidence.
Contact us today to learn more.