It’s the time of year when kids are headed back to school. It’s a time for excitement, anxiety, and some major post-summer blues. As your kids are gearing up to head back to the classroom, you may find yourself in the position of caring for both them and an elderly parent at the same time. It can be a tough balancing act but there are some things you can do to ensure that your loved ones don’t feel neglected or left out this back-to-school season.
Before the first day of school, you’ll want to ensure that you have a list of emergency contacts handy in case one or more of your family members need help immediately. Be sure that you alert everyone who is listed on your emergency contact list and talk through different emergency scenarios so everyone is on the same page.
If you’re juggling a full or part time job on top of caretaking responsibilities, you’ll also want to ensure that care is arranged for both your children and your elderly parent when you’re unavailable. If you need some help arranging in-home care or assisting your parent with moving to a new residence, consider getting the help of a local family caregiver. Family caregivers are often able to provide assistance on an as-needed basis; making sure that the additional support is there when you need it but isn’t invasive when you don’t.
Finally, if you feel that you can’t give your elderly parent the care they need, it’s time to consider getting them help from another source. Talk with their doctor about referral for palliative or hospice care services that will be able to address medical needs, or contact us today for an evaluation.
