Illness is unpredictable, and even full-time caregivers can struggle to adapt to the changing needs of a sick loved one. For those who are also working, keeping up with the demands of a loved one’s illness and a job that is likely paying for their medical care, can feel like too much to bear.
Here are some tips to help lighten the load:
Consider Private Duty Care
Often times, a person recovering from a surgery or another condition may need help with administering medication every few hours, going to the restroom, or eating - all things that may not necessarily fit the schedule of a working loved one. With the aid of a private duty nurse, an ill individual can receive the care they need, when they need it, while their loved ones can continue working and avoid high monthly costs of a nursing home, in favor of less expensive hourly fees of a nurse.
Ask For Flexibility
It’s standard that people work the same hours every day, but nowadays flexibility in the workplace is becoming increasingly common. Ask your employer to adjust your hours so that you can keep your mornings open for AM doctors appointments. Propose flexibility in your schedule by offering to work two long days, in order to have a full one off to be available to a sick loved one. Depending on your job, try making arrangements to work from home a few days a week.
Be Open
A lot of times people don’t know how to help when they know someone is in a tough situation. Other times, they don’t help because they don’t know what the other person is going through. Sharing your situation with your boss, your friends, relatives, and other loved ones is a necessary first step in getting support. Being clear and specific about the ways others can be of assistance to you is a great way to help them put their empathy into action. Whether it’s committing to just one day a week to take a sick loved one to their appointments or helping you run the errands you no longer have time to do, your network can be one of your greatest resources of support.
These are just a few strategies to help overwhelmed caregivers manage their roles. For more caregiver tips, click here.
