Caring for Elderly Parent at Home while Managing Job: Tips & Strategies

Work, kids, relationships, and now an elderly parent who requires near full-time care at home; life can sometimes throw everything at you at once, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope. But what if there was a way to care for your elderly parent at home without having to cut back on your hours at work?

Many family caregivers slip into the role of looking after an aging parent with mobility or cognitive issues, and are often left trying to juggle a number of responsibilities at the same time. It can be overwhelming to keep up with your full-time work commitments, and also have enough energy left over to care for your family, significant other, and an aging parent with Parkinson’s, dementia, or any number of other age-related illnesses.

Do I Need to Quit My Job to Look After My Parent?

Often, there is guilt from leaving an aging parent at home alone all day, while at the same time, there is guilt from the numerous interruptions that get in the way of you giving 100% to your job. Exhausted and run down, adult children in a family caregiving role want to know: How can I continue to care for my elderly parent while keeping my job?

When you reach this crisis point in your life, it can be easy to think there are only two options: give up work so you can care for your mom or dad full-time, or move them into an assisted living facility so they can be cared for 24/7.

But, there is another option that will allow your parent to remain at home while still being cared for, even when you are at work, or busy with your own family obligations.

Home Care: The Help You Need

Home Care is an option that suits many families who are not ready (psychologically or financially) for the prospect of moving a parent into a nursing home. Home Care also provides the support you need when you don’t want to, or can’t afford to, give up your full-time job in order to become a full-time caregiver.

Qualified and experienced caregivers can come to your elderly parent’s home and look after your mom or dad during those times when the rest of life takes over, and you need to focus on work.

Among the many benefits of hiring a Home Care company is that the in-home care is available for as many or as few hours per week as you like. Some families require only a few hours of assistance from a Home Care aide when a family caregiver can’t be there. Others have a need for more extensive assistance including overnight or live-in care.

The great thing about working with a Home Care company is that your mom or dad can stay in their own, familiar surroundings, and you are able to experience the many benefits of receiving assistance:

• You get to be there for them as much as you can, but there is no guilt at the times when you can't
• When some time away from your parent is needed, Home Care can provide a family caregiver with much-needed respite
• Home Care can provide great companionship for your parent if they are unable to get out of the house and engage in their usual activities

Whether your elderly parent is recovering after a stroke, surgery, or has a degenerative illness such as Alzheimer’s, a reputable Home Care team will be able to find an experienced caregiver for your family.

Acting as a caregiver to your elderly parent can be overwhelming, so explore all of your options and consider getting as much help as you can afford and feel comfortable with. A Home Care aide can not only enrich your life, but also the life of your mom, or dad.

To find out how Ezra Home Care can provide the assistance your elderly parent and your family needs, contact our compassionate and experienced team.