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8 • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • CAREGIVER
Navigating being a caregiver while working
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Even though thousands of trained
professionals play vital roles in
the care of the aging population,
many of the unsung heroes of
long-term care are the unpaid or
informal caregivers who step in
to provide assistance to someone
they love.
A 2019 study published in the
journal Geriatric Nursing found
approximately 16.6 percent of
the United States population age
18 and older self-identify as informal
caregivers who provide
care for adults with health conditions
and disabilities. Assistance
needs range from “old age” care
requirements for Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementias
to impaired mobility assistance.
Furthermore, Assisting Hands
Home Care says roughly six in
10 family caregivers also work
full- or part-time.
While it can be a noble effort
to step in and provide care to a
friend or family member, caregiving
can be time-consuming
and emotionally and physically
demanding, particularly for those
who also are balancing careers
and families. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
indicates that while some aspects
of caregiving can be rewarding,
caregivers may be at increased
risk for negative health consequences,
such as depression and
difficulty maintaining healthy
lifestyles. These effects may be
exacerbated by stresses at work.
The challenges of managing
caregiving and a career can be
challenging, but it’s not impossible
to perform both roles successfully.
• Use company assistance or
benefits. Some companies have
policies in place that enable a
person to handle certain aspects
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Direct Access - No Referral Needed
HUNTINGDON PLACE • 1 BRADDOCK ROAD AVE, SUITE B, MOUNT PLEASANT PA 15666
Phone: 724-547-6090 • Fax: 724-547-6091
WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR INSURANCES
of caregiving more effectively.
These can include unpaid Family
and Medical Leave Act leave,
employee assistance counseling
programs, flex time and even telecommuting
capabilities to coordinate
work around caregiving.
• Speak with your employer.
Employees should be honest with
their human resources departments
or supervisors about their
roles as caregivers. Honest communication
can help the employers
understand the situations and
perhaps find workarounds that
will satisfy all needs.
• Get organized. Create a shareable
family calendar so that everyone
stays up-to-date about
caregiving schedules, family appointments,
work responsibilities
and other pertinent events.Seeing responsibilities spelled
out can help all parties involved
divide time accordingly.
• Develop a safety net. Reach
out to trusted friends or reliable
neighbors who can step in during
emergencies when work schedules
cannot immediately be adjusted.
• Practice self-care. Self-care
is crucial to ensuring a person
has the energy to provide quality
care to a loved one while simultaneously
navigating his or her
career. Take breaks as needed.
• Consider professional care
services. Relying on a home care
agency or a skilled nursing facility
can be a solution when a person
needs to simultaneously work
and care for a family member.Individuals also can look into
respite care, which is a temporary
care situation that enables informal
caregivers to get a break for
a set time. Respite care is offered
through various assisted living
facilities.
METRO CREATIVE
METRO CREATIVE
While it can be a noble
effort to step in and provide
care to a friend or family
member, caregiving can
be time-consuming and
emotionally and physically
demanding, particularly for
those who also are balancing
careers and families.
Doctors take care of patients, we take
care of families.
Families Traveled From:
Pittsburgh and Morgantown
Total Family Stays: Ronald McDonald
2,073
Care Mobile:
Average
Length of
Stay: days 11
42
States
17
Countries
1,109
vaccines
administered
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