Caregivers, You Are Not Alone
As Baby Boomers and Gen X continue to age, their spouses, children, family members, and even friends and neighbors find themselves in a unique position of having to become senior caregivers. Many households are finding themselves becoming multi-generational, with caregivers juggling multiple responsibilities from their jobs, raising their own children, and now caring for a senior. It’s a lot.
Balancing Caregiving and Career
A recent report from AARP and S&P Global found that “nearly 70% of family caregivers report difficulty balancing career and caregiving.” This burden causes undue stress on families. Here are some more interesting statistics from the study:
- 27% of working caregivers have shifted from full-time to part-time work or have reduced hours - 16% have turned down a promotion.
- 16% have stopped working entirely for a period of time — and 13% have changed employers — in order to meet caregiving responsibilities.
- Remote workers were more likely to feel penalized or discriminated against at work because of caregiving responsibilities compared to in-office or hybrid workers — 49% versus a combined average of 29%.
It’s also important to note that this trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, by 2030, the number of adults aged 65 and older will surpass the number of children in the United States.
Senior Living is an Option
Of course, a senior living community is also an option. Traditions has communities in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care options, as well as a suite of ancillary supporting services, from home health care to hospice and palliative care, are available. If you’ve ever considered senior living as an option for you or a loved one, visit and explore our website, schedule a visit, or attend a fun, public event. It is an emotional decision, but our team has watched spouses and adult children return to their role as husband/wife, son/daughter – not caregiver. Not everyone is built to care for loved ones in the personal way caring for a senior often demands. Restoring your role as a family member rather than a caregiver can perhaps be the most caring thing of all...for everyone.
If you’re a senior being cared for by a busy loved one, making the difficult decision to move to a senior living community may be a generous and loving gift.
You Are Not Alone
Caregivers, you are not alone. There is an abundance of resources available to support you. Here are some links to get you started.
- Caregiver support from the Council on Aging
- Resources for caregivers from the Department of Health and Human Services
- Family caregiving resources from AARP
On our blog, we have a wealth of free resources available covering a wide range of topics important to seniors and their families. We even have a guide to help you have a difficult but important conversation with your parents about senior living.
Caring for a beloved senior can be difficult, but it shouldn’t be a burden. There are options for support available, take advantage of them. And if you’re ready to explore senior living, we are here for you.