Those caring for senior parents while also caring for children are at risk for burnout.
Are your senior parents in need of care? At the same time are you attempting to meet the needs of children and family at home? If so, you are a member of the sandwich generation – a demographic of men and women, usually in their 30s or 40s, who are now responsible for raising their own children while simultaneously providing care for their senior parents. The to-do lists of this sandwich generation are overloaded. Lots of family caregivers not only are employed full-time, but they are also busy with activities for their children as well as taking care of household tasks on top of their caregiving responsibilities. There are strategies to support caregivers though, and the beginning step is getting informed on ways to make the circumstances more manageable.
At the risk of adding more to the plate, take into consideration adding these items to your to-do list to help:
- Schedule a family meeting.
- Examine the various different caregiving tasks that need to be carried out each day or week. Establish common expectations of how these tasks of caregiving will be undertaken.
- Get the facts to prevent surprises.
- Talk with aging parents about financial issues, what their desires are for long-term care, and what plans they may have made if they become ill or incapacitated.
- Ask for assistance.
This is often the most difficult thing for a family caregiver to do, but it is without question the most necessary. You simply cannot do everything on your own, and that’s fine! Call resources including the local Area Agency on Aging, a hospital social worker, a healthcare provider, or a church. Also contact a local senior care company, like Advanced Home Health Care of Burlington and the surrounding area, to give yourself a break while making sure your loved one is well cared for.
Most importantly, bear in mind that you don’t ever have to go it alone. Advanced Home Health Care’s in-home care in Burlington can offer you the opportunities you need to relax and recuperate so you don’t become impacted by sandwich generation caregiver burnout. Whether the need is for just a few hours each week, around-the-clock, live-in care, or just about anything in between, our professional care staff can provide help with an extensive range of home care needs: personal care, meal planning/preparation, household chores, taking care of errands, transportation, or simply pleasant companionship to participate in enjoyable conversations and pastimes.
Contact us today at 800.791.7785 to learn more about our elder care services and to find out how we can help you and your family throughout the many areas of Iowa we serve.
