Ways to Ease the Pressure of Working and Being a Caregiver

Being a family caregiver and having a career are both possible, but it could mean that you’re feeling even more pressure. Here are some things you can do in order to maintain your career and keep being an effective family caregiver.

Caregiver in Evanston IL: Balancing Work and Caregiving

Caregiver in Evanston IL: Balancing Work and Caregiving

Talk to Your Employer.

Many people don’t realize that there are a lot of employer-sponsored resources available for caregivers. Talk to your employer about what is going on and find out what sorts of resources they can offer to you. Even if they don’t have their own resources, more and more companies understand that caregiving is a fact of life and they may be able to point you to local resources. Every little bit helps.

Figure out How Caregiving Will Impact Your Career.

Your career may be flexible enough to allow you to work from home or to work different hours than you have in the past. Some of these options may not impact your career at all. You may also be able to take time away or cut back on the hours that you work. It’s important to note, though, that some careers may not be able to handle that and things like promotions may be out of reach for a period of time.

Look for Ways to Have Someone with Your Aging Adult.

Hiring home care providers or having other family members stay with your senior when you can’t be there is one way that you can multitask. You can still be the primary family caregiver while being at work just as much as you always have been. If you’re able to take advantage of these types of options, you may not experience any impact on your career as a result.

Ask for What You Need.

The major factor to remember is that you need to know what you and your aging adult need and then you need to ask for it. Whether it’s from your employer or from other family members, you can’t get what you need if you’re not asking for it.

Ultimately, this is all about balancing yourself as both a family caregiver and someone who cares about having a career. You may need to make some big changes eventually, depending on your situation.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Evanston, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Jamie Shapiro