Everyone who has a job and a family knows how difficult it can be to manage both responsibilities. But when you are a caregiver for a family member, this balance can become nearly impossible to manage. No longer are you trying to figure out how you are going to get to the meeting and to the Little League game. Now you’re wondering how you’re going to get to the office and make sure your parent is safe and cared for. You have to worry about who is looking after them when you’re not there, if you’re going to be able to leave the office in time to relieve the help, getting them to all of their medical appointments – the list goes on and on. Of course, once you take on the role of caregiver, you may actually end up missing a lot of work, which may make you worried about keeping your job.
Most caregivers cannot afford to give up their jobs – and in many cases, most of them don’t want to. If you’ve built up a career, even if it is not a financial necessity, it can be difficult to walk away from. Maybe it is the only thing that gets you out of the house and without your job, you would only have the task of providing care day in and day out. Whatever your reason for wanting to balance your job while you balance your responsibilities as a caretaker, you should know that it can be done. You just have to know where to turn for help and be willing to ask for what you need.
You may be surprised to find out that your biggest ally might be your employer. Employees have a tendency to try and hide the fact that they are providing care for someone from their bosses because they’re worried that they may get skipped over for promotions and that it might make them look uncommitted to their work. In reality, however, most companies are aware that these circumstances are very common and have programs in place to try and accommodate their employees who are caring for a parent. Your company may have financial assistance programs to help you hire home help to look after your parent while you work or to help you pay for adult day care. Your company may also be able to help you find counseling help or other support that you need to cope with your new responsibilities.
Even if your company doesn’t have such a program, you should know that in the US, you are entitled to take up to 12 weeks leave of absence per year from your job to care for a sick relative without worry about losing your job or any of your benefits. The catch is that the leave is unpaid, so this might not be a financial possibility for many caregivers.
If you can’t afford to quit working, look into alternative solutions that might help you juggle your new schedule. See if your company offers job share programs or if they can allow you to work from home at least a few days a week. See if one of your siblings may be able to get some time off from their jobs more easily than you to take off some of the burden. Last but not least, if your company is completely inflexible and unwilling to work with you, then you may need to look for a new job. Millions of Americans care for their parents, and many companies out there are willing and able to accommodate employees who do so.
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