Balancing the Complexities of Navigating a Career While Managing the Responsibilities of Being a Caregiver, Author: Karen Schnupp

Most working individuals must balance the duties and responsibilities of their job with the responsibilities in their personal lives to include raising children or even grandchildren, while maintaining and nurturing a relationship with their significant other. In addition to each of these roles, many individuals at some point in their life will also become a caregiver for another person, such as a parent, partner, child, grandchild, or family member. Just because an individual assumes the role of caregiver, their other roles do not disappear. Failing to balance the complexities of work life and the responsibilities of being a caregiver can lead to added stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, diminishing physical and mental health, and burnout. Therefore, it is essential that the caregiver and their support group, be that a family member, coworker, or friend recognize and take steps to reduce these negative impacts on the caregiver’s life.

During my legal career, my work hours were not 8-5. This is not unlike what many workers experience. With current technology, employees are expected to be accessible at all hours. Thus, the complexities of a work and personal life balance are challenging. When someone assumes the responsibilities of being a caregiver, it can be like having another job. That is certainly not to say that there are not immense rewards, happiness, and joy from being a caregiver. Nevertheless, the reality is that trying to work while being a caregiver is stressful and at times exhausting.

When I became a caregiver, my ability to remain at the office until my day was at a stopping point ended. Since my office was an hour plus drive from home, I had to leave work early to relieve my caregiver. Conversely, on the days that my paid caregiver was unavailable, a different caregiver had to oriented to the house, daily routine, etc. Nevertheless, I still had to be on time for work. Thus, just beginning and ending the workday was a great stressor. In addition to the physical transition between work and caregiver duties, there is a mental transition as well. To be effective at each, there must be a separation of work life and life as a caregiver. Once you leave work, you must redirect your focus to taking care of your loved one.

Unfortunately, some individuals are forced to leave their jobs when they become a caregiver due to reasons beyond their control, such as: the cost of hiring a paid caregiver, the inability to find paid caregivers, the special needs of their loved one, lack of understanding and flexibility at work. This can lead to the loss of self and personal identity for the caregiver. Additionally, this denies the caregiver the ability to focus on something away from their responsibilities as a caregiver.

Over the course of my journey, I discovered strategies that were effective in navigating working and caregiving. Below are tips that may be useful to caregivers.

Helpful tips to assist in the work life of a caregiver:

• Learn to say no, delegate and be organized.
• Inquiry as to whether working remotely, job sharing, or flex hours are available.
• Consider whether your boss, HR or co-workers would be more understanding,
  • if they were aware of your responsibilities as a caregiver. This option should be considered based on each person’s individual work environment.
  • When scheduling appointments for your loved one, try to schedule them during lunch or at the end of the day. Have a family member, friend, or paid caregiver transport your loved one to and from the appointment. This will allow you to meet them at the appointment and requires less time away from work.
  • Listen to music or a podcast on the trip home to unwind, decompress, and transition out of work mode.

Helpful tips related to a caregiver’s home life:

• When hiring a paid caregiver, ascertain if the paid caregiver will consistently be the same person, have an understanding as to the services that will be provided, i.e.- preparing meals, assisting the loved one with personal care, engaging with the loved one, assisting the loved one with small household chores, etc.
• Be organized- plan meals for the week; keep a calendar of events, start laundry before leaving for work; set up meds for the day.
• Use tracking devices on regularly used items- i.e.- wallets, purses, etc. You can use your phone to locate them when lost.
• Purchase extras of regularly used inexpensive items and stash them in a separate
  • place– combs, shower caps, etc.
• Look into adult daycares, at local churches and nonprofits.
• Accept help from friends and family. Be specific with what you need:
  • Prepare meals, transport your loved one to appointments, staying with your loved one.
  • Then go for a walk or to the gym, meet a friend, get away for a weekend, go shopping, meditate, or take a nap.
  • Look for respite care services- Assisted and memory care facilities may provide temporary care for your loved one (at a cost), while you take a break or go on vacation.

Hopefully, these tips will assist caregivers in maintaining a balance between their work and caregiver duties. To function effectively in each role, it is essential to take care of oneself, reduce stress, address exhaustion, and avoid burnout.