Should You Quit Your Job To Care for Your Elderly Parent?
As parents age and need more assistance, most adult children do what they can to help. For many, the first step is a weekly stop by Mom and Dad’s home to assess the situation and perhaps help with some chores and errands. Often, these check-ins increase in frequency until they become a routine part of each day.
Family caregivers typically look into community services and in-home care for assistance. They research adult daycare centers and assisted living communities. However, most seniors are adamant about wanting to remain in their own homes and receive assistance from their own children. They don’t want “strangers” in the house or driving them around town.
Sick days and paid time off begin to dwindle. Performance suffers and unpaid leave becomes the only option for taking time away from work to handle emergencies and doctor’s appointments. Eventually, like so many other family caregivers, you consider quitting your job, putting your career on hold. While it won’t be easy, it’ll just be a temporary solution, ideally with minimal impact. Right?
The Benefits of Leaving Work to Care for a Family Member
You already know what may be gained by giving up your job and becoming the primary full-time caregiver for your parents. You would benefit from knowing firsthand how they are faring day and night. You could potentially save them from paying for in-home care or adult day care. You wouldn’t have to worry about the quality of care they are receiving from outside sources. You could likely delay, if not eliminate, their need for nursing home care. You may even be able to deepen your relationship with your parents and grow closer to them.
Keep in mind that every family is unique. For some, these benefits are realistic yet short-lived. For others, these benefits are simply unattainable ideals. Caregiver burnout, financial strain, and changes in health and relationships can severely undermine even the best-laid care plans.
The Costs of Quitting a Job to Care for Elderly Parents
While the benefits seem straightforward, the true costs of quitting your job to care for Mom or Dad are much more complex. A deficit in or loss of monthly income is likely the biggest factor in this decision, and that…
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