Caregivers: How to Find Time to Care for Yourself

Many of us are caregivers even though we may not realize that title applies to us. When you provide unpaid help to a loved one with a disability, illness, memory problem or simply old age, you’re one of the 38 million caregivers in the United States.

Most caregivers are also handling other significant responsibilities in addition to caregiving, such as child care and work. The stress of it all can lead to caregiver burnout, resulting in depression and fatigue. Taking some time to find out about your options and rights can be of great benefit both to you and the person for whom you’re caring.

At Work

It’s important that caregivers find time to relax and recuperate. Thankfully, many employers are understanding of the requirements placed on those providing care and have services in place to help. They can assist you with finding community-based services, respite care, which we’ll discuss later in this post, and other types of assistance.

Check with HR

If you’re finding challenging demands being placed on you at work and home as a caregiver, reach out to your human resources department to see what types of benefits are available to you. Of course, every job is different, and what’s available to employees will vary. You won’t know unless you ask.

Family and Medical Leave Act

You may be eligible for time off from work through the Family and Medical Leave Act, which was first passed in 1993.

To qualify:

1. Your company must be covered by the FMLA by meeting specific requirements.
2. You must be an eligible employee as defined by the FMLA. This requires that you’ve worked for your employer for at least 12 months and have worked a certain minimum number of hours during that time.

Check out the FMLA website and talk to your employer to find out if you qualify for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Flex Time

You may be able to work out a flexible arrangement with your employer to help you care for your family member. It may be possible you can work from home one day a week or come in earlier so you can leave to go to medical appointments.

Respite Care at Home and in the Community

Find out what options are available to you for respite care. Respite care can enrich the quality of your loved one’s life while giving you much-needed time for yourself. One place to start is with your local Area Agency on Aging. They can sometimes provide volunteer caregivers or other options at no cost to your or the person you are caring for, depending on where you’re located and your particular circumstances.

You can also pay a worker through a private firm for caregiving assistance. The United States Administration on Aging has created an Elder Care Locater service to help you find respite care providers.

Day Programs

Adult Day Programs can be a source of daytime social enrichment for the senior in your life while also making sure they get good care when you can’t be there. These programs are usually tailored for older adults with health or memory problems who can’t be left unsupervised during the day. Day Programs in your community can provide physical therapy, personal care, nutritious meals and socialization. They are a great option for helping seniors stay in their own home and out of an institutional setting.

Family and Friends

Sometimes we overlook those closest to us and don’t realize how much our family and friends are willing to help us when we need them. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities as a caretaker, reach out to your family and friends and ask if they will help you take care of yourself. You can take better care of your loved one when you have your own time to rest and recuperate.