December 10, 2013 | Aging Life Care, Caregiving
Many working professionals have elderly parents who are sick or disabled and need more care than most. How does a working professional deal with the challenges of maintaining an ambitious professional career and caring for an elderly parent? I myself am in that situation currently as my mom has Stage 4 lung cancer and is receiving daily chemotherapy treatments as well as a host of tests and doctor’s appointments on a regular basis.
Important decisions need to be made as a working professional: how much time will I be able to spend caring for my parent who needs a lot from me? In my case, I chose to make adjustments to my career so that I could be more available to my mom. I took a job closer to her with more regular hours and no travel requirements so I could be there if an emergency came up, and to have more time for her on a daily basis. I knew it was “meant to be” when I found that position at Elder Care Guides. I check in with my mom on the way to work, on the way home from work, and on my lunch breaks when I can. When she needs one-on-one assistance, I help during the weekends. During the work week, I am very blessed to have people in our lives who can assist when needs that kind of one-on-one assistance while I am working.
For those who do not have such people in their lives who are able to help, Elder Care Guides can provide this type of assistance. We have Care Managers and caregivers who are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They can help with medical appointments, shopping, help with housecleaning, meal preparation, and even pet care. We can be your eyes and ears while you are at work. With our help, you can continue to focus on your career knowing that your parent is being well cared for. Our Care Management team will alert you to any changes in day to day activity (eating, sleeping, activity level, etc.) as there is ongoing communication between the caregivers, Care Managers, our clients, and their families. We will keep you informed and involved in your parents care management plan.
Working at Elder Care Guides has greatly enriched my life. I’ve learned new ways to care for my mom, and now have the reassurance that if I ever need help, they are available. And as a part of the Elder Care Guides team, I’m helping other people care for their parents as I care for mine.