Caring for an older parent is hard. Really hard. It might start out easy, but as your older loved one ages and grows in their needs, the task gets harder and harder. So many people start caring for a loved one believing that they can do it all on their own, only to find that they need a lot more help than they had thought.
But why is it so hard? You provided care for other family members in the past. If you’re a parent, you remember how hard it was to raise your kids and account for all of their needs. You probably did a lot of this stuff on your own, but not all of it. You may have had help from your spouse, your parents, schools, clubs, nonprofits, and other types of community resources. They say that it takes a village to raise a child, and while this might not be entirely accurate all of the time, there are typically many other people that play a role in the upbringing of a child than just a single parent.
You might find that it’s too hard to care for a loved one and keep your job. While a lot of employers are getting more and more understanding about this and providing resources for employees, not all of them are. In fact, it’s still very common for people that act as a family caregiver to leave their jobs because it’s too much to have on their plate. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always provide the best outcome for a family. Sometimes, it’s possible, but not always.
Caring for a parent is hard.
If you find yourself in a situation like this, it might be better to reach out to a local in-home care service, like what we do here at Paradise In-Home Care. Studies have shown that the opportunity cost of leaving a job is usually a greater expense than the actual cost of in-home care. If you’re unsure of what your financial situation can permit, get in touch with a financial planner to help you figure out how to approach this time in the way that will help your family out the most.
Above all else, please know that you are never in this alone. Even though it might seem like that at times, you have resources in your community, wherever that might be located. Friends and family members are always a resource, even if they are not professionals in the care field.
Caring for a loved one is hard, but that’s okay. If you reach out to others, there will be people that can help you. Even if you’re not sure where to start, there are people and services that will help. Start with the services that you are aware of and see what they can offer you. If you really have no idea where to start, contact your local Department of Social Services and they can help you find the appropriate resources.
You’re not alone. This is the most important thing to remember before you start helping a parent.
Leave a Reply