Juggling children can be tough enough for a parent, especially if you have more than one. However, this can become more of a balancing act when you are also a caregiver for an elderly parent. Not only do you have kids to parent, but you have to care for your parent. This can be difficult to adjust to, but it is possible.
There are different ways to ensure you are maintaining your own health when balancing parenting with caring for an elderly parent. Thankfully, some of the best tips have been outlined in this post.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Some people feel ashamed when asking for help, and this can make their lives tougher. When raising children and caring for parents, it is easy to feel like you are being pulled in all directions, and receiving help from others can ease this strain. There are numerous ways to receive help, but you must assess your own capacity to provide care as well as your parent’s needs first to ensure the right assistance is obtained.
Thankfully, if you have family members or friends close by, they might be able to offer support or practical assistance. You might find that a friend who also has children can collect your kids from school one day a week, allowing you to run errands with your parent; this might include attending a doctor’s appointment or collecting medication. Similarly, your parent might appreciate seeing other familiar faces, like your siblings or other family members.
However, if your parent has complex care needs, it might be worthwhile seeking professional assistance in the form of in-home carers. There are other care options, but many elderly people prefer to be in the comfort of their own homes. Plus, highly trained professionals like those hired by Visiting Angels Kennewick – Best Senior Home Care can often provide a variety of care services, including dementia care.
Consider the Needs of Each Generation
Parenting while caring for elderly parents is a balancing act, and it isn’t an easy one to master. It is crucial to consider the needs of everyone involved when doing this to ensure that all individuals are cared for sufficiently. To do this, you should begin by observing the academic progress, developmental stage, and emotional needs of your children. This will allow you to tailor the activities and expectations to your kids’ ages and abilities.
Elderly parents should also be assessed to determine their social needs and preferences for care. This can include looking at their cognitive abilities, emotional wellbeing, and physical health. You can involve them in the decisions about their care and living arrangements, and this should be a regular occurrence, especially if their needs change frequently. It is important to do this as it will respect their autonomy and preferences.
With this information understood, you can then establish a daily schedule that accommodates everyone’s needs. The structured routine should include activities, appointments, and meals, ensuring that all needs are met. Using this schedule, you can also allocate tasks to other members of the family or close friends, allowing them to help as outlined in the previous point.
Set Boundaries and Communicate Them Clearly
While you might want to give everything to your children and your parents, this isn’t feasible. In fact, this could quickly result in your burning out. You must maintain your own wellbeing and ensure you have healthy relationships to feel fulfilled. There are various ways to do this, but you must first set boundaries by recognizing your own needs and limitations as a caregiver. It is essential to be honest when doing this.
Your boundaries will often differ depending on the ages and health needs of your children and parents. For example, your parent might have relative independence, but insist upon nightly phone calls. If this is the case, then a boundary might be limiting calls to every other night. These boundaries must be communicated clearly, but with no passive-aggression or manipulation.
To conclude, being a full-time parent and a caregiver will be difficult, but it is possible to do both successfully. You must understand that you might need help from others at times and be willing to make the tough calls. This post explains how to balance both duties, and this is useful knowledge to avoid burnout.
