caregiverexchange.ca - Know options and implications before you quit

information and encouragement for caregivers



Know options and implications before you quit February 1, 2012, 3:48 PM
Here’s a headline that caught my attention the other day - "To female caregivers of the elderly: Keep Working!" The story, featured in newjerseynewsroom.com, puts forward a powerful case for staying on the job, even if it means going part-time. Writer Carol Abaya says that quitting work to take care of an elderly parent or spouse may create financial challenges for years to come. Now, this may not be the advice that you want to hear, especially if you’re feeling stretched beyond your limits. But if you’re thinking about going down this path and you’re prepared to lose income, be sure to explore all of your options first. Be thorough. See what your province, state or employer offers in terms of caregiver/family leave. Check out community resources, consider hiring help or asking family and friends to become more involved in a plan like Share The Care™. It’s a tough economy out there. Crunch your numbers. Consider future implications. Be brutally honest with yourself. Maybe you don’t have to quit working? Maybe you need to change your approach?

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adversity, caregiving, elderly parents, family, share the care, stress