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As a caregiver, you are one of 12 million Americans who spend all or
part of their day assisting 5 million family members or friends who
need help to remain at home.
Many caregivers have multiple responsibilities. The great majority of caregivers are women (75 percent)--a quarter of whom care for both older parents and children. Half of all caregivers also work outside the home. It is no wonder then that caregivers-whether they are full or part-time, need respite and support. Otherwise the demands and constraints of caregiving can become overwhelming. Many working caregivers find that the demands of their job and caregiving responsibilities conflict. When this happens it is important to discuss your needs with your supervisor. Flex time, job sharing or rearranging your schedule may help to minimize your stress. Increasingly, companies are also offering resource materials, counseling, and training programs to help caregivers. You can also encourage your older children to become involved in the care of your family member. Such responsibility, provided it is not overburdensome, can help young people to become more empathetic, responsible and self-confident and give you needed support. Do not hesitate to ask other family members to share in the responsibility of caregiving as well. Your siblings, if they live nearby, have just as much reason as you to assist their aging parent. If you are a caregiving spouse with siblings and/or adult children make your needs known to them. A family conference can often help in sorting out the tasks and schedules that other family members are able to assume. And don't forget neighbors and friends who may be willing to provide transportation, respite care, and help with shopping, household chores and repair tasks. The help provided by you, other family members, friends and neighbors may still not be enough to enable an older person to remain independent. In this case you will need to look for other avenues of support Information obtained from
Administration on Aging Where to look for Help Types of Living Arrangements
Links to Elder Care Information on the Web
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