Caregiving for an Elderly Family Member While Working: A Balanced Approach

Attempting to balance a career with caring for an aging parent or grandparent is akin to trying to walk a tightrope. As a person who has done this, let me tell you about the chaos that arrives as a result of attempting to juggle work and caregiving. An endless list comes with a hefty price tag. Pretty overwhelming, isn’t it? Get this, though: all that exhaustion can be made easier to tackle with the right strategies and a sprinkle of tech help. Believe me when I say this: striking a balance is possible.

If you’re in the midst of handling a strict medicinal timetable, navigating through lunches, or even scheduling doctor’s appointments, don’t worry. This guide is catered to help you achieve all the goals you’ve set out to while attending to the dual responsibilities.

What Makes Working While Caregiving Extremely Difficult

Let’s get straight to the point. A caregiver’s responsibilities feel like an entirely different full-time job added on top of your actual one. A common scenario involves having to meet deadlines at work while also managing caregiving’s multifaceted responsibilities. Something always ends up suffering, and in this case, your sanity is highly likely to go down the drain.

Overarching Challenges:

A Heady Time Sink: It is no secret that time these days is a limited resource.
Mental Toxicity: Constantly juggling between meals, medications, and meetings can be excessively draining.
Self-Doubt: Battling the perception that one is underperforming in both roles.

Personal Experience:

While my father was hospitalized due to a stroke, I was balancing work meetings, which made my life very challenging. During this period, I found myself forgetting work-related tasks and subsequently feeling guilty for not giving him adequate attention. Does this resonate with you?

5 Ways to Negotiate the Intersection of Work and Caregiving

Set and Communicate Your Boundaries Effectively
- Allocate blocks of time where work will not be interrupted.
- Schedule alerts for caregiving duties (like pill-taking).
- Speak to your supervisor; most people are understanding with regard to shift changes.
Streamline Processes
- Use productivity software tools like the Controlio app to schedule tasks and monitor caregiving hours to reduce burnout.
- Set alphabetic refill reminders.
- Order groceries or subscription meal kits.
Create a Caregiving Community
- Request other family members to take on some responsibilities.
- Employ an occasional respite caregiver.
- Seek advice from online caregiving forums.
Create Structure for Remote Working

With working remotely tools, Trello or Asana can be utilized to organize tasks. The directive? Do not overexert yourself; instead, maximize results with minimal effort.
Make Self-Care Part of Your Daily Tasks

Self-care is crucial. Remember, five-minute tasks such as a short walk can have a huge impact.

Strategies Technology Offers for Professional Caregivers

Apps for Medication Management

The Medisafe app can track and remind users to take their medications, alleviating the anxiety for families needing to constantly check in, saying, “Did Dad take his pills?”

Remote Patient Monitoring Systems

Smart cameras or smart wearable notifications like fall detectors provide valuable assistance, allowing users to focus on their work.

Productivity Boosters

Time-tracking apps like Controlio are among many tools that help track work hours. They ensure that caregivers are not overcompensating at the office while simultaneously caregiving.

Knowing When It Is Time to Seek Assistance

Seeking assistance is not admitting defeat. These are some signs where seeking assistance would help:

Cumulative fatigue or constant irritability
Shifted focus or lack of interest in working
The existing care responsibilities have outstripped mobility and need more assistance to cover sufficiency safely

Hint: Financial help to hire dedicated caregivers is often available through insurance plans.

Wrap Up—-You’re Doing Better Than You Think

Achieving balance in work and caregiving isn’t a goal to accomplish—it’s restraining yourself within the limits of time and energy available to you. Lean on your support system, utilize technologies designed for task streamlining, and remember taking care of yourself is not selfish; rather, it’s essential.

Feeling overwhelmed? Start with one small change this week. Perhaps that could be one less task delegated or downloading a time-tracking app. Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection.

What tip can you share with us regarding caregiving challenges? Add them below!