Caring for your senior loved one can be a big responsibility, and it can be easy to burn out if you also happen to be working a full-time job. The experienced staff at Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of senior home care in Waterloo, offers these 4 tips on how to find that middle ground between work and caregiving.
1. Ask for Help
If caring for your loved one by yourself has become difficult, try asking family members, friends, neighbors, or members of your church or religious community for assistance. Consider adult day care services or an hourly caregiver in Waterloo who can assist with tasks like housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, and meal preparation.
2. Talk to Your Boss
While some caregivers want to keep their lives private, letting your employer know what you’re dealing with outside of work can help ease the stress you may be feeling. If you express your desire to remain a valued employee and discuss your options honestly and realistically, you may be able to find a way to balance work with your obligations at home.
3. Adjust Your Schedule
If the option for flexible hours at your job exists, you may want to consider changing up your schedule to help accommodate your loved one’s needs. Find out if you can work part-time or from home on occasion to make managing both work responsibilities and caregiving duties easier.
4. Take Time Off
Sometimes it’s just not possible to work while caring for your loved one, so you may need to take some time away from your job. Talk to your employer’s human resources department or check with Canada’s Labour Program for more information on family leave laws.
Despite your best efforts, balancing both work and caregiving may have become difficult to manage. If you could use help managing your loved one’s care needs, consider the senior care services provided by Home Care Assistance. In addition to flexible hourly care and comprehensive live-in care in Waterloo, we also offer Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia care in Waterloo. Call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers today at (519) 954-2111 to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation.