Balancing Work and Family Caregiving After the Pandemic

If there is one positive after-effect associated with the pandemic, it’s the awareness generated for the plight of family caregivers. Balancing work and family caregiving has always been an incredible challenge for anyone taking care of an older relative. As Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO of Wellthy, explains, “Caregiving went from a silent struggle to being in the spotlight overnight.”

• More telecommuting. People who began working at home over the past year have, in many cases, demonstrated their ability to be more productive. As a result, it is forecast that as much as 25 – 30% of the workforce within the United States will continue telecommuting at least a few days each week this year.
• Decreased stress. Doing away with the daily commute opens up additional time for self-care for family caregivers, while increasing peace of mind. This is especially true for people who relied on public transportation and were wary of compromised health safety. To help boost mental health, many employers are offering subscriptions to mindfulness and meditation applications.
• A corporate culture of caring. Working from home has opened up the personal elements of our lives to employers. Zoom meetings share our living spaces with each other, including the appearance of children, pets, and other loved ones. As a result, the workplace is now more humanized, bringing about a more empathetic working environment.
• Focus on mental health. Along those lines, there’s also now enhanced understanding of the need for taking good care of our psychological state. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll revealed that up to 45 percent of adults experienced negative mental health affects as a consequence of the pandemic – and an even higher percentage in those who serve as family caregivers for older family members. Many employers are now implementing ways to attend to the mental health of their employees, such as offering virtual trips and adventures to present the chance to relax and escape.

Let JFS Care further help foster a significantly better work-life balance with our dependable respite care services. Regular, ongoing respite care is key to the all-around wellness of caregivers currently balancing work and family caregiving. Our compassionate and skilled home care team is readily available to help with anything from just a couple hours every week up to around-the clock care. Reach out to us online or at 213-383-2273 to schedule a free in-home consultation and learn more about our in-home care services in Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding communities.