According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2000), 5.75 million Americans are in the “Sandwich Generation” of caring for both children and parents, and women represent the majority of caregivers for family members. Following are a few things you can do to prepare for and live your life while taking on a caregiver role.

Plan Ahead

Preparing well in advance to meet your own needs and those of your loved ones should undoubtedly be your first step. No matter how difficult it can be, you need to commit yourself to having a conversation with your parents. It’s the best gift you can give them. Many well-meaning parents and children avoid the conversation because they don’t want to consider the impact. The truth is, a conversation can eliminate feelings of guilt, burden and the potential of conflict. Look for opportunities to have a conversation by asking about a friend, relative or acquaintance who is going through a long-term care situation and ask “what if?” questions. Remember to listen carefully and ask questions if the responses are not clear. Don’t try to tackle the issue in one conversation. Instead make a plan to think about the options and set a goal for continuing to share information. If your parents haven’t considered it, find out if they would be interested in purchasing long-term care insurance.

Next, have a conversation with your spouse or significant other. Developing a plan is best done when you’re healthy and you can objectively review your options. Also, many people don’t realize that it’s easier to be approved for long-term care insurance and pay for it when you’re earning an income and healthy.

Know Your Resources

Well-intentioned families are taking the brunt of the care demands upon themselves or at least delegating it to one member. Take a look around your workplace and you’ll see many colleagues are caring for elderly relatives, either because they lack the financial resources or are not aware of the many alternative care-giving options. Although the Family Medical Leave Act guarantees most U.S. workers up to 12 weeks time off a year, this time is unpaid.

To help employees stay productive and balance the needs of family with work, many are offering referral services to inform workers about where they can find caregivers, legal advice and extended leaves of absence.

If you aren’t up to speed on your employee benefits package, schedule a quick update session to see if new options are being considered. Many employers are now offering long-term care insurance to employees and their immediate family members. In some cases, this arrangement allows people to obtain a discount on the premium. Ask some questions. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new way to save money and make the most of the programs currently available to you.

Sometimes The Small Things Make A Big

Difference

You may be amazed at the countless number of cards, visitors and kind gestures of friendship bestowed upon your family by neighbors, friends and members of your faith community. You hear all the time that it’s better to make a real offer to do something specific rather than say “If there’s anything I can do to help just call.” Make small requests of those who offer help to ease your burden. What may seem like a small effort to one person could be a tremendous relief to another. In one case, the caregiver’s dad’s longtime barber just showed up at the hospital during the first three weeks and cut their dad’s hair and shaved his neck, which he continued to do on a regular basis thereafter. The barber just took it upon himself to make sure it got done, and his gesture made the dad feel good. 

Stay Healthy

If you’re not taking care of yourself, how can you take care of others? This is a lifelong goal and something to always try to improve. The easiest excuse for grabbing fast food, skipping the usual morning walk or letting yourself get rundown can be in the guise of saving time, but it could also be at the expense of your health. Start small and set goals. Stash some healthy snacks in the refrigerator at work and home. Try to limit your fast food “dashboard dining.” And take time for you, to read, to relax, to pamper yourself. Far from being selfish, these times are crucial for your wellbeing.

Learn to Set Limits

Some of the same skills and strategies you use at work such as planning, organizing, communicating, setting limits and delegating can be used effectively on the home-front for achieving a satisfying, fulfilling and well-balanced life both personally and professionally.

Although those sandwiched between care for their children and care for their parents cannot change this fact, you can do a better job of preparing for the job of caring for your parents before the need arises. 

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Information adapted from article adapted by Carolyn K. Schultz, Certified Long Term Care (CLTC) in the Caregiver Newsletter, Thursday, November 14, 2013 – Issue #664.