You mean there’s a Part 3 to this series of blogs about a caregiver’s day? Actually, we could have 365 parts to this topic and not be done! That’s how much responsibility rests on caregivers’ plates daily. You know it.
Further, it would be helpful to have about 50 pairs of hands and legs to be in about 50 places at one time. OK, I exaggerate. But not entirely…
His Business
Back to the couple with three aging parents, all the while striving to maintain their entrepreneurship in the midst of one crisis after another. On top of everything, he needed to conduct an important business meeting cross-border while his own mother was still doing poorly in the independent living retirement residence. That left his partner to check in multiple times per day by phone while she tended her parents pretty much 24/7 over two hours’ away.
Her Business
For almost three weeks, don’t even ask how little she was able to keep alive her business. Try zero! Now, before any business coaches reading retort that she “should” have set up automated systems so the operation can run itself, may I say something? As a solo-preneur, that is not the nature of her enterprise (by choice). My point is, whether one owns a business or is employed in an organization of some sort, hidden eldercare costs are steep.
Costs – Financial and Otherwise
In the case of entrepreneurship, those equate to lost revenues and time-consuming catch-ups when one returns to the fray. Such dollar-costs are typically under-estimated. In the case of employees, it’s not hard to imagine how quickly a person could burn through personal sick days or leave policies (if the firm even accords them) for parental medical appointments and more – resulting in no other option than docked pay for each additional day “off” work (or worse).
You Don’t Need to Pay the Price!
Meanwhile the burning-out caregiver gains no respite – at the expense of their physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and financial health.
For instance, my friend practically rubbed her fingertips raw applying harsh cleaners to carpets in desperate need of shampooing. Yes, she ought to have worn rubber gloves! Besides that, she was down on hands and knees because of mother’s demanding standards. Yet, she works with her hands a lot in her business. Not good…
Do you really need to be a scullery maid or other type of servant to your elders? I surely hope your vocal answer is no!!!
To make sure you don’t become that person – or to help get you out of that bind if you’re at risk – please reach out pronto to book your confidential Readiness Session at (905) 822-2503 or www.copingwithuncopeableparents.com.
Carol-Ann Hamilton
Latest posts by Carol-Ann Hamilton (see all)
- Once Housed, We’re Good - January 21, 2021
- “Do Not Pry Into My Business!” - August 9, 2020
- “I Can Hack It When the Time Comes” - August 1, 2020
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