Working While Family Caregiving

Working While Family Caregiving

Juggling your professional obligations with family caregiving tasks, whether small or large, is exhausting. Family caregivers around the globe struggle with finding the perfect balance between work and caregiving (spoiler alert: there is no perfect balance, unfortunately). In fact, family caregivers typically spend more than 24 hours giving some type of unpaid care or support to aging family members in addition to their 40+ hours per week at work.

If you are in a season of life where you are working while also family caregiving, welcome to the Sandwich Generation, a cohort of adults who are simultaneously caring for themselves, their aging family members, and their own children. It can be stressful and exhausting, as well as sometimes unhealthy without the right support.

Fortunately, there are some ways you can lessen your mental load while you are “sandwiching”, especially when considering your workplace and routine. Here are a few tips to consider and adjust to your specific situation.

Talk to Human Resources and Your Supervisor

Even if you don’t need to ask for an extended leave or other special requests, it is still wise to let your supervisor and Human Resources know about your caregiving situation. You can give as much information as you would like, but at minimum, you can let them know that you have an aging parent who needs some additional support lately and you have taken on some of those caregiving tasks.

Not only will this inform your supervisor and Human Resources department, they will also know to point you in the direction of any workplace support that could help you out. For example, your HR director might send you an email with updates to their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that is geared toward family caregivers. Or, your supervisor will be more understanding when you need to come in a few hours late each month so that you can take your loved one to their doctor’s appointment.

Keep these key co-workers in the loop long before any medical crisis occurs, when possible.

Understand FMLA

The Family and Medical Leave Act is a law that ensures workers can take time off of work and not lose their positions. While not required to pay you during that time, unless you take accrued sick or vacation time, your workplace does have to hold your position for your return.

Many people utilize FMLA during maternity leave, but you can also use it to take care of an aging parent or family member. Work with your HR department to understand FMLA so that you can use it effectively each year to care for your loved one.

Consider Work From Home Days

If your workplace is open to the idea, ask if you can have a few work-from-home days each week or each month. These days could provide you with the extra flexibility to complete your work tasks while also giving support and oversight to your loved one.

You might also find that a work-from-home day is the perfect time to invite a visiting caregiver into the home. You can work in your home office while a caregiver tends to your loved one. This can decrease the stress about inviting a new professional into your loved one’s routine, as you’ll be right there in case there are questions or concerns.

Research Adult Day Services

If your loved one is unsafe to be at home alone during your work day, or if they are lonely, consider researching adult day services in your area. Adult day services, sometimes called adult day care, are safe places where seniors can come to spend the day. These centers provide healthy meals, supervision, and personal care, as well as enriching activities and events. You can drop off your loved one on your way to work and then pick them up on your way home, or you can arrange transportation for them to get to and from the center of your choice.

Be sure to check with your loved one’s Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance policy, as there could be some cost savings!

Ensure Their Home Is Safe

You might be able to concentrate better at work if you know that your loved one is safe in their home. Depending on your loved one’s abilities and challenges, you might find that you appreciate the peace of mind that comes with oven and stove locks or a medical alert device.

Ask your loved one’s physician for home safety suggestions based on their unique situation.

Getting Paid for Caregiving

In some cases, you might find that you need to leave your job in order to care more for your loved one. Some states, depending on your loved one’s eligibility, pay family caregivers for their time through Medicaid waivers, Veteran benefits, or senior-directed care benefits.

If your loved one is eligible for Medicaid, begin by determining if their state has family caregiver programs. Then, you can determine if you meet those qualifications and apply to be a caregiver.

If your loved one does not qualify for Medicaid, they can still pay you privately for your caregiving. Consider working with an attorney to complete a Personal Care Contract or a caregiver agreement that outlines your scope of work as well as payment. If you have other siblings, ensure they are aware of the agreement so that it doesn’t cause confusion or frustration down the road.

Ask for Help

Finally, you might need to learn to ask for help more often than ever before during this Sandwich season. Don’t be afraid to ask for more support with work tasks, caregiving tasks, or home chores. There are people in your life who are ready and willing to give you the break you deserve.