For many adults today, they’re sandwiched between caring for both their aging parents and for their own children. While it can be great to have a multi-generational family, it can also be very hard to have all your time devoted to caring for people other than yourself. And depending on how healthy your parents are and how old your children are, you may never have the chance to get a break or even feel like you can take a breath.
Oftentimes, aging is said to be second childhood; many elders, especially those suffering from chronic illness, require someone to assist them in their personal care, meal preparation, or other activities. If you are searching for how to choose Home Care Agency to their aid, agencies like Impactful Home Care and similar others can be of use to you. These entities often provide professionals who provide support to the aged and sick people in a personalised manner to improve the quality of their life.
Alternatively, you can follow these three tips to create better balance at this stage between caring for a parent and caring for your children.
Don’t Feel Guilty For Taking Time For Yourself
As you get more and more stressed with caring for all those around you, you likely begin taking less and less care of yourself. And while this might seem like the most natural thing for you to do, this is by no means what you should be most comfortable doing. If you’re not taking good care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, you’re not going to have anything left to give those who need your assistance. For this reason, Lisa Tabachnick, a contributor to Care.com, shares that you need to take time for yourself and not feel guilty about it. While it might mean being away from your parent or children for a few hours or even a day or two when you get back, you’ll feel much more energized and ready to help them through their struggles.
Involve Your Kids In The Care When You Can
If you thought you’d be able to bring your aging parent into your home and just continue to take care of things the way you always have, you’re likely in for a rude awakening. To have a home that runs smoothly, everyone needs to pitch in to the best of their ability, including your kids. According to Claire Gillespie, a contributor to SheKnows.com, you should encourage your kids to help with the care of your parents, their grandparents, when it’s appropriate. By getting your kids involved, you can teach them many valuable life skills as well as ease your own burdens a little.
Accept and Ask For Help
When everything becomes too much, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and either accept help being offered to your or get out of your comfort zone and just ask for help. While it can be awkward at first, Paula Banks, a contributor to Empowering Parents, shares that once you accept or ask for help, you’d be surprised to see how many people are willing to help share this load with you. And if all it takes to feel less overwhelmed is swallowing a bit of your pride, don’t you think it’s worth it?
If you’re trying to care for both your parents and your children, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find the best way to balance these responsibilities.