Wondering how to juggle caregiving with a career? Our care professionals have the solution.
It’s a delicate balancing act. On one hand, you have your job, which offers you purpose, fulfillment, and of course, a paycheck. On the other hand, you are providing care for someone you love. Attempting to give 100% to both of these important roles can make you physically and mentally exhausted, with little if any time to care for you.
You are not alone. Approximately 6 out of 10 family care providers over age 50 are also working outside the home. What are their secrets to obtaining a healthy life balance?
How to Juggle Caregiving With a Career
- Review your employee handbook. It may be years since you have taken at look at the handbook you received upon employment. And back when you were first hired, your personal circumstances might have looked very different from how they look now. Go back and read the policies again related to FMLA (the Family Medical Leave Act), flexibility in working hours, and family emergencies or medical needs. If the company you are working for employs a minimum of 50 people, and you have worked there for at least 12 months (for not less than 1,250 hours during those 12 months), you’re entitled to use up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave without concern about losing your job.
- Contact HR. Once you’ve decided to explore a modified working arrangement or to take some extended time away from work, plan a time to talk to your HR representative. Explain the situation and the solution you would like to look into. You may also like to see if there is the choice to work at home, either part or full time, even if just on a temporary basis. The earlier you have this talk, the better. You don’t want to wait until you are in crisis mode to attempt to arrive at a resolution.
- Bring in respite care. Whether you decide to modify your work schedule to better support your caregiving responsibilities, or you decide to continue to dedicate yourself fully to your work, respite care from a trusted home care agency is a lifesaver. A professional caregiver can fill in any gaps in care, from just a few hours each week up to and including full-time, around-the-clock care. This enables you the freedom to:
- Work at home with caregiving assistance at your side, allowing you to focus on your career while still being present with your senior loved one
- Work full-time while knowing a skilled caregiver is at home preparing meals and providing light housekeeping, assisting with personal care, offering transportation and companionship, etc. to enable you to come home and simply enjoy time with your family member
- Find any blend of the two that best meets your needs, with a fully trained and experienced caregiver filling in the gaps accordingly for seamless care
At Hearts at Home In-Home Care, serving Kansas City, Overland Park, and the nearby areas, we partner with family caregivers in any manner that works best for them and the individual they love. Let us assist you to enjoy a better balance between your career and caregiving with award-winning respite care services. Contact us today at 913-440-4209 for more information!