Video Transcript
[0:00] Welcome to Caregiver SOS by Bay Alarm Medical. My name is Haley Burress. I’m a caregiving expert here to talk about the ugly side of caregiving that no one talks about — the most frustrating and challenging parts of caring for an aging family member, and how to get through it.
[0:24] Family caregivers are often juggling caregiving with their professional careers. Here’s a question: “I was offered a job a few towns over with a company I’ve wanted to work for since I graduated college. The problem is that the extra commute time will make caring for my dad in the evenings a bit more difficult. Are family caregivers just expected to sacrifice their careers for their parents?”
[0:48] Family caregivers are never expected to do anything! It’s just this guilt and pressure we put on ourselves — either because of the way we were raised, what we think we should do in order to be a “good” child, or what society tells us. For a moment, put away that guilt, pressure, and the expectations of what you think you should do in order to be good. Think about what you really want.
[1:10] If you want this job, you should take it! You can work with them during the hiring process; be honest about your caregiving role. They might be able to give you a few days a week to work from home, or to leave a little earlier in order to get to your dad’s house on time. They may have family caregiver support resources as a part of their Employee Assistance Program — more and more companies are offering these types of perks.
[1:32] Start the conversation with this potential new employer. You might be pleasantly surprised at the support available to you.
[1:52] Like and subscribe for more caregiving advice.
