By Mark Friedman
I once saw a quote that read, “It’s OK to ask for help. I give help when others need it, and ask for help when I need it.”
To me, that sums up the rigors of caregiving perfectly. You are not alone.
With AARP reporting that almost 90% of seniors want to remain in their homes even as their need for help with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) increases, is it any wonder that the challenges for caregivers can sometimes be overwhelming? Trying to balance work and family responsibilities can, and often does, have significant impact on caregivers’ personal and professional lives, as the bulk of these responsibilities have been picked up by the “sandwich generation.” These workers are 35-64 and responsible for caring for both children under 18 years old and aging parents.
Financial pressures on households can make it hard to afford outside help, even if they can find professional caregivers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 1.8 million caregiving jobs (nursing assistants, home health aides, and childcare workers) are currently open. But much of that caregiving still falls squarely on the already burdened shoulders of a family member.
It’s estimated that 53 million adults in the Unites States are caring for a spouse, elderly parent, relative, or a special-needs child. These caregivers are predominantly women (56% vs. 44% male) and find themselves devoting on average of 26 hours per week to providing support. That number really doesn’t jump out at you until you factor in that many are holding down full-time employment. So how do they juggle these two important worlds?
Nearly half of all caregivers have never even had a conversation about their caregiving responsibilities with their employer, and many have simply taken a leave of absence, and in some cases, even a demotion in order to accommodate their caregiving schedule. Some have taken the drastic step to leave the workforce. And the result of this juggling act? Working caregivers are twice as likely to experience their own disability-related leave of absence.
These sandwich generation caregivers often struggle to balance work and family responsibilities. It can, and often does, negatively impacts the caregiver’s physical, mental, and financial health. And that financial impact can be devastating. Half of all caregivers live paycheck to paycheck, with 33% earning less than $50,000 per year, and 27% having less than $1,000 in their savings account. Finally, 40% of caregivers have said their responsibilities have had a negative impact on their household’s financial security and that they spend an average of 26% of their income on caregiving activities.
And the health ramifications aren’t much better, with 41% reporting low overall well-being compared to 31% on non-caregivers. In addition, 47% have experienced increased anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues in the past year – 62% more than non-caregivers.
Caregiving takes its toll, but it does not have to. The key is having open and honest discussions about caregiving responsibilities so both the caregiver and care recipient understand the challenges. Consider respite care (i.e., short-term support) to alleviate periods of high need or stress. Identify the areas of most difficulty and invest in reducing the complexity and obstacles in those areas. Lastly, think through ways to build out a circle of care to share the burden. In future articles, we will discuss the circle of care and how to craft one to support caregiving and caregivers.
About the Author: Mark Friedman is the owner of Senior Helpers Boston and South Shore. Passionate about seniors and healthcare, the goal of his agency is to set a new standard in home care in Massachusetts – first by delivering an exceptional homecare experience in a combination of highly trained and high-touch caregivers, and second by becoming a significant connection for elders to resources and services in the 75 communities his company serves. Contact Mark at MFriedman@SeniorHelpers.com or visit www.SeniorHelpers.com/SouthShoreMA. ∞
