With an ever-growing senior population, millennial sons and daughters are increasingly having to assume the role of caregivers to their aging parents. The effects of this pervasive trend are manifesting across society, with elevated stress levels, financial strain and even health challenges for the current adult children generation. More and more adult children are having to make trade-offs between work commitments and being caregivers to their ageing parents.
A research survey of over a thousand respondents across Canada, has revealed alarming statistics on the circumstances facing the current generation of working adults who also play the role of family caregivers to their aging parents. Critical findings:
- Nearly 70% feel their job is at risk and career growth impacted due to caregiver duties
- Unpaid family caregiving hours are on the rise; with average 19 hours a week spent looking after parents, often on top of fulltime jobs and other personal obligations
- ~62% feel that looking after aging parents has put a strain on their financial future and money decisions such as buying a home
- ~68% report that being a family caregiver will cause a delay in their future retirement
The above statistics evidences the obvious strain family caregivers are under and the crying need of the hour is to care for the family caregiver herself. Our team at Home Instead receives as many inquiries on care for seniors as we do from overwhelmed adult children wanting care for their aging parents to get some respite. Our experience had made it evident that the family caregiver is the fundamental link in the senior care chain that cannot be allowed to break, and we firmly believe that we are not in “senior care” but in “family care”.
Hiring a professional caregiving service to supplement efforts towards caring for aging parents can provide family caregivers with enormous support and much needed respite.
Additionally, family caregivers can make some basic but crucial routine adjustments to alleviate their pressures and lead a happier and healthy life. Our team at Home Instead has compiled a list of some easy steps that family caregivers can take to reduce their caregiving stresses:
- Exercise: regular exercise such as walking, biking, running, swimming, for at least 20 minutes 3 times per week has enormous strength, circulation and stress relief benefits. Consider stress relieving exercises such as yoga or tai-chi for inner balance and relaxation
- Meditate: sit still and focus on your breath, while inhaling and exhaling deeply whenever things appear moving too quickly or overwhelming. If you feel like you don't have even a minute for this, it is a sign that you really need to meditate!
- Take a break: make arrangements with family, friends, or professional caregivers to cover you for a bit. Take off for a weekend or even a week! Ensure to line up a proper support, so you are confident that your loved one is happy and safe while you are away. And when you're away, stay away! Focus on new things, read that new book, visit a new place, and there is always exercise or meditation if you haven’t started yet!
- Ask for help: enlist the help of other family members, friends, support groups to guide you in your work as a caregiver. Don’t feel bad or guilty for reaching out. Support groups can be an excellent source for practical advice from people dealing with similar situations.
- Eat well: with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, nuts and whole grains. Indulging in caffeine, fast food and sugar as quick "pick-me-ups" also produces just as quick "let-downs”.
- Take care of your health: Just like you make sure your senior loved one gets to their doctor appointments, make sure you get your annual health and other check-ups. Being a caregiver provides many reasons and excuses for skipping your own health and necessary check-ups. But if something happens to you, who will care for your parents?
- Indulge: treat yourself to a foot massage, a manicure, a nice dinner out or a concert for a quick decompress and to reward yourself for the wonderful care you are providing to your aging relative. You shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to feel good.
Home Instead provides a wealth of free resources on CaregiverStress.com to help family caregivers cope with stress, and look after themselves, as they continue the journey of caring for their aging parents.
For more information on relieving family caregiver stress contact the care experts at Home Instead Senior Care – available 24/7
