As the baby-boomer generation continues to age, more Americans are finding themselves juggling work, home, and caregiving responsibilities. If you are among them, you know how much pressure this can be at times. You may even occasionally feel overwhelmed. Balancing life as a caregiver is an essential aspect of good physical and emotional health.

You don’t have to sacrifice yourself or your work in order to provide your parent or loved one with the care he or she needs. By following a few simple steps, you can take control of your responsibilities and keep your life more balanced and healthy.

1. Set priorities.

Make lists of what needs to be done, set realistic goals, and assign a priority to each task. You’ll be able to know at a glance where you stand in your day, and you can get your most important tasks completed first.

2. Talk to your employer.

You may be able to take advantage of FMLA, which provides up to 12 weeks of protected, unpaid leave annually to qualified employees who are caring for relatives. Alternative work arrangements may also be available, including flextime, telecommuting, or job sharing. Many employers today also offer employee assistance programs, or EAP, which can provide supportive services or referrals.

3. Share responsibilities.

If you have siblings, work out an arrangement in which they can assist with caretaking responsibilities, or take advantage of adult daycare facilities to ensure your parent is properly cared for while you are at work or simply taking a day or weekend off. Decades, LLC staff can assist by facilitating a family meeting in which a division of tasks can be a topic.

4. Ask for help when you need it.

Be proactive about scheduling time for yourself; don’t wait until you are feeling overwhelmed or exhausted. Schedule regular time off, and take breaks that don’t revolve around either work or caretaking duties. Spend time relaxing or enjoying your favorite hobbies.

Balancing life as a caregiver can also including using the services of a care manager like Decades, LLC of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Decades, LLC is a Comprehensive Elder Care Consulting and Care Management firm with a holistic team approach that can provide caregivers like you with valuable assistance, including:

• Assessment and coordination of services
• Crisis management and intervention
• Client advocacy
• Coordination of and referral to outside service providers and facilities and staff
• 24/7 access to our emergency on-call service
• Regular scheduled status evaluations
• Consultations and regular updates with family and appropriate parties, including doctors and attorneys

We provide support to those who are balancing life as a caregiver and navigating the complex world of elder care. For an immediate assessment or assistance or for more information about the programs we offer, contact Decades, LLC in Albuquerque, NM at 505-345-5529 or Santa Fe, NM at 505-983-7787.