Tips for Keeping Your Work and Caregiving in Balance
Many family caregivers hold down a job in addition to their caregiving duties. That’s no easy feat. It can be difficult to focus on work when you’re concerned about your aging relative’s health or thinking about scheduling their next medical appointment.
Home Health Care in Lake Forest IL: Work and Caregiving Balance
Sometimes you may even find yourself having to take off work if the older adult gets suddenly ill or needs you to take them to an appointment. Knowing how to balance your work life and your responsibilities as a caregiver can make things easier on both fronts. Below are some tips to help you do just that.
Organize Your Tasks
With everything you have to do between being a caregiver and work, it’s probably not wise to try to keep track of everything in your head. Instead, keep a running to do list. You can do it on paper or keep it in your smartphone. No matter how you do it, having a written list can help you to avoid forgetting anything. Also, create a caregiver calendar to track who will be with the older adult each day and when their appointments are. This prevents a sudden gap in care that results in you having to take off work to cover it.
Think About Telecommuting
More and more companies are offering their employees the opportunity to work from home by telecommuting. You might even be able to work from the older adult’s house. Talk to your supervisor or manager about whether that’s a possibility. It could allow you to keep an eye on your aging relative while also getting your work done.
Take Care of Yourself
You’re going to need to take care of yourself to accomplish everything you have to. Eat a healthy diet and make time to exercise on a regular basis. If you don’t take care of yourself, you may find yourself getting ill more easily, which could lead to taking time off work or being unable to care for your loved one.
Talk to Your Boss
Don’t try to hide what you’re going through from your boss. Instead, tell them that you’ve become a family caregiver and what that entails. It may not reduce any responsibilities or change the way anything works, but it could help your boss to understand what’s going on. It might also buy you a little leniency if you have to leave work early occasionally or if you arrive a few minutes late. Your boss can also direct you toward any company policies that may apply to you, such as FMLA or flexible work hours.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Lake Forest, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.
Sources
Webmd.com
Aarp.org
Nextavenue.org
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