Over the past few decades, we’ve seen increased dialogue and support for women who are navigating their careers as they raise young children. But much less attention and discussion have focused on the unique challenges that come with navigating a career when caring for aging parents. Two-thirds of all caregivers are female, and many feel that they sometimes have to choose between being a good employee and being a good daughter.
Home Instead, Inc., franchiser of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, developed the Daughters in the Workplace℠ public education program offering free resources to help working family caregivers feel empowered to talk to their employers about their needs, while also identifying caregiving support that may be available. This program also provides information to help employers understand what their employees want and need as caregivers.
Many family caregivers of older adults worry about be stigmatized at work. Drew Holzapfel from ReACT (Respect a Caregiver’s Time) points out that senior caregiving issues often are not accepted like child-care issues and may cause employers and co-workers to view the family caregivers in a negative light.
In a survey conducted by Home Instead, Inc., franchiser of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, 26 percent of North American family caregivers of older adults report they felt a workplace stigma associated with elder caregiving.
Follow the link below for 10 ways family caregivers can feel more empowered at work: