EAPs Respond to the Needs of Aging
Care giving takes a heavy toll on work and family life, and employers nationwide are seeing their bottom lines affected by America’s aging. Among those who provided hands-on care, 67% reported that it has significantly affected their family life, and 41% said that it interfered with work. Trying to manage the care of aging parents or a disabled family member, while trying to meet work and family responsibilities, is a challenge that faces a rapidly growing segment of our population.
EAPs are increasingly being called upon to help workers cope with caring for elderly family members and relatives. So how does one care for aging family members, take care of the immediate family, and still find time for self?
First, be realistic about what you can and cannot do. While it’s a difficult task, you owe it to yourself to consider possibilities such as nursing homes, in-home nursing care, or hospice care or other alternatives. If possible, everyone involved, including the elderly relative, should discuss expectations. Every situation and every family is different but generally, your three main tasks will be:
- Planning for legal and financial incapacities.
- Managing income and expenses.
- Arranging for long-term care.
In handling these tasks, you’ll need to:
- Assess the needs of you loved one and the capacities of your whole family.
- Collect information on how to address those needs.
- Divide responsibilities among parents, siblings, relatives, friends, neighbors or others.
- Use community backup services.
- Investigate and adapt available household devices and appliances to help your loved on maintain independence or to improve the loved one’s ability to function.
Caregiving for the elderly should begin long before a crisis develops. Call your EAP for assistance early in the process, so that you can be educated about the various aspects of caregiving, including emotional, financial, legal, and day-to-day issues. It is important to plan ahead and be armed with the resources, support, and information to meet your elder’s needs. Your EAP is prepared to work jointly with a network of community professionals who can offer eldercare expertise in a cost-effective manner.
Call Mercy EAP for assistance with a wide variety of work-life issues: at 319-398-6694 or 1-800-383-6694.
