Many grown children will eventually be faced with the day that their elderly parents can no longer cope by themselves. This can be due to the onset of a medical condition, an injury reducing mobility, or simply old age. While many families plan for retirement and eldercare, many still do not. This may leave a family forced to find a solution to care for an elderly loved one, or to be a caregiver themselves. Especially in the case of the development of a medical condition or an injury, this may sometimes occur sooner than we had planned.
Adult children are faced with the choice of caring for their elderly parent themselves, helping them move to a retirement community, or hiring senior homecare to look after them. Hiring full- or part-time care can seem expensive, so many families may think that caring for their loved one themselves is the better option.
Pros and Cons of Leaving Work to Be a Caregiver
Pros:
- More time and memories shared with your loved one.
- Gratification of helping someone you care about.
- Save on costs of professional care.
- Caring for a parent who once cared for you.
Cons:
- Leaving a salary.
- Difficulty getting back on career ladder later on.
- Stress and fatigue of being a caregiver.
- Lack of skills for being a caregiver.
- Emotional difficulty of caring for a parent.
- Demands of caring for a parent and also caring for children (“sandwich generation”)
Before this decision becomes urgent, speak to your parents and your family about their wishes, so everyone is in agreement.
To learn more about how to be a caregiver and to partner with a professional caregiver to ensure all the bases are covered and you’re achieving a healthy life balance, reach out to Serenity Home Care. Our senior care in Sidney and the surrounding areas is the ideal solution for older adults and the families who love them. Contact us today to learn more!