Balancing Work and Caregiving - How Do You Manage? - Balancing Work and Caregiving - How Do You Manage? - Community Support Forum

#1 · June 14, 2024, 4:26 am

Hi everyone,

I’m Sydney, and I’ve been juggling my full-time job and caregiving responsibilities for my dad, who has Parkinson’s, for the past four years. It’s been quite the balancing act, and I’m curious to hear how others manage this dual role.

One of my biggest challenges is time management. Some days it feels like there just aren’t enough hours to get everything done. I’ve started using a planner religiously, blocking out specific times for work, caregiving tasks, and even self-care. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep me on track.

Working from home has been a blessing and a curse. While it’s convenient to be around for my dad, it also blurs the lines between work and personal time. Setting boundaries has been crucial—like designating a specific room as my “office” and sticking to set work hours.

I also rely heavily on a support network. My sister and I coordinate our schedules to ensure someone is always available for dad. We also hired a part-time caregiver to help with daily activities, which has been a game-changer.

What about you all? How do you balance work and caregiving? Do you have any tips for managing time, setting boundaries, or maintaining your own well-being? I’d love to hear your stories and advice.

Thanks for sharing!

Best,
Sydney

Cay has reacted to this post.

#2 · June 14, 2024, 10:45 am

Quote from Cay on June 14, 2024, 10:45 am
Hi Sydney:

This is a valuable topic for caregivers. When family or friends are the primary caregiver, the lines between personal and cargiving duties become very blurred. Our head tells us to do our professional job but our heart screams to take care of our loved one. Scheduling hours and duties is very difficult and this battle within ourselves rages and can be debilitating. The blessing of finding outside caregiving can be essential to maintaining one's job, career, and mental health.

Working from home can be the proverbial double-edged sword - Pro = you're not required to continuously ask for time off or away from an on-site employer which can lead to resentment from other employees and your boss. Con = you are readily there all the time, no separation of worlds. This can also lead to longer hours of professional work to "catch up" on work delayed by caregiving. If your loved one lives at your home with your family, that can also be a challenging and rewarding situation with pros and cons all its own.

I'm glad you have the support of your sister to help with your dad. You have that comfort of knowing her care for him is like your own. Loving family is the epitome of care for our elderly and those of us fortunate to have it, embrace it. And use it!

Professional caregiving services also hold their own advantages - they allow us to separate ourselves periodically from the emotional strain that comes from watching our loved ones age and sometimes, decline in health. Their services can range from a few hours a day to many hours a day. Depending on budget and need, caregiving services can be personalized to your loved one. Sometimes we need to do a trial run with a few caregivers to find the one or two who fit our needs. But once we do - the whole world changes.

Thank you, Sydney, for sharing some ideas you have for caregiving. I hope more can join us to offer their support, ideas and suggestions.

We all need some kind of help at some time in our lives. We can all also offer some kind of help, too. It's a give/take world and when caring for our elderly loved ones, let's give and take when we can.

Hi Sydney:

This is a valuable topic for caregivers. When family or friends are the primary caregiver, the lines between personal and cargiving duties become very blurred. Our head tells us to do our professional job but our heart screams to take care of our loved one. Scheduling hours and duties is very difficult and this battle within ourselves rages and can be debilitating. The blessing of finding outside caregiving can be essential to maintaining one's job, career, and mental health.

Working from home can be the proverbial double-edged sword - Pro = you're not required to continuously ask for time off or away from an on-site employer which can lead to resentment from other employees and your boss. Con = you are readily there all the time, no separation of worlds. This can also lead to longer hours of professional work to "catch up" on work delayed by caregiving. If your loved one lives at your home with your family, that can also be a challenging and rewarding situation with pros and cons all its own.

I'm glad you have the support of your sister to help with your dad. You have that comfort of knowing her care for him is like your own. Loving family is the epitome of care for our elderly and those of us fortunate to have it, embrace it. And use it!

Professional caregiving services also hold their own advantages - they allow us to separate ourselves periodically from the emotional strain that comes from watching our loved ones age and sometimes, decline in health. Their services can range from a few hours a day to many hours a day. Depending on budget and need, caregiving services can be personalized to your loved one. Sometimes we need to do a trial run with a few caregivers to find the one or two who fit our needs. But once we do - the whole world changes.

Thank you, Sydney, for sharing some ideas you have for caregiving. I hope more can join us to offer their support, ideas and suggestions.

We all need some kind of help at some time in our lives. We can all also offer some kind of help, too. It's a give/take world and when caring for our elderly loved ones, let's give and take when we can.

#3 · June 15, 2024, 1:11 pm

Hi Sydney,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I can truly relate to the struggle of balancing work and caregiving. My mother has dementia, and I’ve been her primary caregiver while working full-time from home for the past two years. It’s definitely a challenging balancing act.

Time management has been one of my biggest hurdles too. I found that setting strict schedules and sticking to them as much as possible really helps. Like you, I use a planner and block out specific times for work, caregiving, and self-care. One thing that has worked for me is setting alarms for different tasks throughout the day to stay on track.

Working from home has its pros and cons. On the one hand, being home means I’m always there for my mom, but it also means there’s no real separation between work and caregiving. I’ve had to be very intentional about setting boundaries. I have a dedicated workspace and try to maintain regular working hours to keep a clear distinction between work and personal time.

Having a support network is crucial. My brother and I take turns caring for our mom, and we also have a part-time caregiver who comes in a few times a week. This arrangement has been a lifesaver, allowing me to focus on my job and recharge.

I’d love to hear from others about how they manage this balancing act. Do you have any tips for setting boundaries, managing time, or finding moments for yourself? Sharing your stories and advice would be incredibly helpful.

Best,
Catherine