Are your senior parents in need of care? At the same time are you trying to meet the needs of children and family in the home? If that’s the case, you are a member of the sandwich generation – a demographic of males and females, typically in their 30s or 40s, who are now responsible for raising their children while simultaneously providing care for their senior parents. The to-do lists of the sandwich generation are overflowing, causing caregiver burnout.
Many family caregivers have demanding careers, are busy with activities for their children, and manage a variety of household tasks in addition to their caregiving responsibilities. There are strategies to help with caregiver burnout, though, and the first step is becoming informed about how to make the circumstances more manageable.
At the risk of adding more to the plate, consider including these things on your to-do list to help:
Schedule a Family Meeting
Examine the different caregiving tasks that need to be carried out daily and weekly. Establish common expectations of how these caregiving tasks will be undertaken.
Learn the Facts to Prevent Surprises
Speak with aging parents about financial issues, learning about their goals for long-term care, and any plans they may have made if they become incapacitated or ill.
Ask for Assistance
This is frequently the most challenging thing for a family caregiver to do, however it is without question the most necessary. You simply cannot try to complete everything on your own, and that is fine! Reach out to local resources, including the Agency on Aging, a hospital social worker, a healthcare provider, or a religious organization. Also contact a local senior home care company, like Solutions, to give yourself a break while making sure your loved one has qualified, compassionate in-home care in Richland, WA and surrounding areas.
Most importantly, know that you do not ever need to do it alone. Solutions’ 24-hour home care in Richland and the surrounding areas provides you with the opportunities you will need to relax, reducing the chances of sandwich generation caregiver burnout. Whether the need is for just a couple of hours each week, around-the-clock, live-in care, or just about anything in between, our professional care staff can help with a number of home care needs: personal home care, meal planning/preparation, household chores, running errands, transportation, or just pleasant companionship and enjoyable conversations and pastimes.
Email or call Solutions today at (509) 627-8575 for more information about our 24-hour home care in Richland and the surrounding communities and discover how we can help you and your family.