At the end of a long day at work, many come home to their second job as caregiver. Statistics tell us that one out of every four employees managing some level of family eldercare responsibility. There are over 15 million unpaid caregivers, and many serve double-duty, at work and home.
With an aging population upon us, Moms, Dads, Grandparents and other loved ones are waiting at home for their arrival and depending on them for care and attention.
In this day of dwindling resources and the necessity of two family incomes eldercare gets complicated. Couple that with the rising cost of care, the distance between loved ones, and the family’s assumptions of who will take on what responsibility, eldercare can blindside an employed family caregiver when he or she least expects it.
Human Resource Professionals can help at the workplace. They should be encouraged to open their eyes to the inevitable and help their co-workers plan for future. Space in company newsletters should be given to eldercare articles that frame the subject in a proactive and positive life. Content should emphasize the planning for future financial and emotional stability of the entire family. This is the mindset a company wants employees to be in when they think about eldercare.
There are many misconceptions about eldercare. It is not about sickness, death and dying. It’s not about nursing homes and funerals. It’s about quality of life, and addressing issues now that can prevent chaos in emergency situations. Families should plan to smooth the way for their loved-ones, and eliminate stress in their own families. Here are a few tips that can help:
Have the talk. Many assume that their parents have planned and saved but many have not saved enough for the length of life our current population is enjoying. It is difficult for aging parents to share their concerns, and add a burden on their children. Money can be a delicate subject. But children need to become involved in the process of financial planning. It’s better to know upfront than wait for rising debt to blindside the family.
Stay in touch. A geographic distance between families makes it difficult to see what’s going on day-by-day with aging parents. The key is to stay in touch with not only the parents, but their neighbors and friends. Also, develop a check-in system, purchase a monitor and an easy-to-use cell phone. Think ahead to avoid an eldercare crisis.
Prepare for housing and caregiving services. When someone has lived independently all their life, it’s difficult to even think about a time when their source of independence is removed. But if families have a plan in place, whether that involves in-home care, transportation to the doctor, grocery store and church, when the time comes the transition will be smoother.
Plan, plan, plan. Families should help their parents with estate planning, living wills and powers of attorney. They shouldn’t wait for an emergency to stress out about what should have been done.
