Balancing a Career with Caring For Children and Parents

Posted by Anna on May 23rd, 2019

Many things have changed since our parents were younger. More families have two people working instead of the traditional, where one parent stayed home. This has put more pressure on families and made it harder for children of elderly parents to balance everything.

The sandwich generation

In today’s modern society where many people are choosing to have children later and later and the elderly are living longer than ever before we have been left with a “sandwich” generation where the breadwinner literally can feel as though they are being squeezed from all sides. The demands of caring for children and parents as well as balancing a career can begin to feel overwhelming.

Fragmented families

In the not too distant past, families tended to be “nuclear” meaning that parents often lived only a few streets away. Often, they were only a short hop around the corner should they need anything.This meant that should they need care; popping in and out did not pose too much of a demand and could be shared with other family members and this same support network was also available to help with the care of the children. Combined with the fact that neighbours often shared almost “familial” bonds from generations of the same families living on the same streets and you can see how caring for children and parents could be described as a community effort leaving plenty of time and energy for a working life too.

Stresses and strains of modern life

Times have now changed, and a competitive marketplace for homes and jobs means that many families have a great deal of geographical distance between them. And, the combined care of children and parents often falls to one immediate family member who can begin to feel as though they are buckling under the strain. 

Residential care

The very presence of children sharing the same household as a working parent or career means that they haveto be cared for and so it is often isolated ageing parents living some distance away without a support network that present the biggest worry and strain which can lead to feelings of guilt especially if a nursing home begins to look like the only solution.

Parenting the parent

However; according to the No Place Like Home report 97% people wish to avoid residential care and this is where live in care can help; bringing a feeling of family back to ageing parents. You can find out more at the Live in Care Hub (www.liveincarehub.co.uk) but care at home can include such things as 

• Getting Up
• A morning cup of tea
• Washing & Dressing
• Medication Reminders
• Nutritious Home-Cooked Meals
• Companionship & Escorting to Appointments
• Housekeeping & Laundry
• Getting ready for bed
• The security of knowing someone is there if needed

Work and play

Live in care means you can still care for an elderly parent without doing the actual care-work. Balancing a career in the midst of three generations is possible with a little creative thought and some professional outside help that enables you to look after the “I” in family.