As a working caregiver, you have plenty of company. More than 44 million Americans, or 21% of the adult population, are giving care to an adult age 18 or above, according to a report released April, 2004 by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, funded by MetLife Foundation. Of those, 59% reported they worked and managed caregiving duties at the same time. Most of that 59% work fulltime, only 11% said they worked parttime.
And more than six in 10 working caregivers say their caregiving responsibilities have affected their work.
Getting Comfortable with Needing Help
Even given the fact that you have plenty of company, sometimes asking for help isn't easy. It may be particularly difficult if you have been an independent, working woman for many years, or even just a few years.
Mental health experts say you can mentally adjust to the need to ask for help with some effort. Here are some tips:
Look at the big picture. Everyone needs help sometime.
Consider the times you've pitched in at work to help. You were probably happy to do so. Coworkers who are close to you, in particular, or a boss who is fond of you, might feel less helpless and frustrated about your sick loved one if they can help ease the burden of your caregiving role.
When you ask for help, learn to pose the request graciously. Depending on how well you know the coworker or boss, you might begin by giving them an "out," such as: If this request doesn't work out, it is OK. I will find a way.
Anticipate the Impact -- and your need for help
While the needs of every caregiver is a bit different, there are typical problems encountered by many working caregivers, according to the "Caregiving in the U.S." survey funded by MetLife Foundation released in April 2004.
When they polled the 935 caregivers who worked while caregiving, 57% said they had to go in late, leave early or take time off, not surprisingly, to perform their caregiving tasks.
Other ways caregiving impacted, but less commonly, included:
- Need to take a leave of absence, reported by 17%
- Need to switch from fulltime to part-time work, reported by 10%
- Need to quit entirely, 6%
- Lost some job benefits, reported by 5%
- Need to turn down promotion, 4%
- Decision to opt for early retirement, 3%.
