Family caregivers are some of the hardest-working individuals out there. Not only do they have to manage the care of an elderly loved one (which is a daunting task on its own), they have to juggle their own lives, their families, and even their careers. Providing quality care while balancing these responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming.
The limited hours in a day become painfully obvious when one starts providing care to a loved one. According to the Arbors, family caregivers provide an average of 24.4 hours a week. 23% spend more than 41 hours caring for a family member.
Deciding the hours you work as a family caregiver is important
It’s vital to carefully plan and decide the hours you work as a family caregiver to prevent caregiver burnout. This involves learning to balance your time effectively between caregiving, work, and personal life.
Learning to balance your time
Finding the right balance between your variety of responsibilities may not come as easy as you like it to. It will involve plenty of trial and error. However, once you’ve learned to properly balance your work, personal, and caregiving responsibilities, you’ll be able to better shape your hours as a family caregiver.
- Set priorities: Identify what’s most important in your life. List your daily or weekly tasks and prioritize them. You may need to let go of some things, and that’s okay. Caring for a loved one is a valid reason to shift priorities.
- Schedule creatively: Maximize your time by combining tasks. For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment and need groceries, schedule a pick-up nearby to make your errands more efficient.
- Understand your loved one’s needs: Not every task needs to be handled by you. Assess where your parent truly needs assistance—perhaps with medication reminders or dressing—and focus your efforts accordingly.
Evaluating your time
After organizing your responsibilities, you can better assess how much time to dedicate to caregiving. If your duties start affecting your job, consider discussing flexible options with your employer, such as working from home or adjusting your hours to balance both roles.
If this is the case, a new potential stressor arises lost wages. However, there is a way to compensate for this problem. Through the Illinois Department of Aging Community Care program, you can be paid for the care you already provide an elderly loved one by undergoing training through an existing home care agency.
Become a paid caregiver with Home Care Powered by AUAF
Home Care Powered by AUAF is one of those elderly home care agencies in Illinois. Our contract with the Illinois Department of Aging permits us to train family caregivers. This garners them the skills they need to present the highest standards of care to their elderly loved ones. To apply, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or one year of comparable experience
- Reside in the state of Illinois and have the authorization to work in the United States
- Pass background checks
- Complete orientation and training
From that point on, your loved one can select you as their preferred care aide. Deciding the hours you work as a family caregiver now is in conjunction with us.
Receive respite care from one of our caregivers
Caring for a loved one is fulfilling but can also be physically and emotionally taxing. If you find yourself needing a break to prevent caregiver burnout, Home Care Powered by AUAF offers respite care services. Our trained caregivers can assist with daily activities such as personal care, medication reminders, and light housekeeping, allowing you to focus on your own well-being.
Taking breaks ensures you can continue providing quality care while maintaining your own mental and physical health.
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a paid caregiver or need respite care services, call Home Care Powered by AUAF at 773-274-9262. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
