Written by: Amy Scoville-Weaver, Senior Manager, Business Development at Arizona State University
March 2020 hit all of us different. Some baked bread. Others discovered yoga. For me, it was the month I became a daily caregiver for my mother with Alzheimer’s – changing my life and the way I worked.
And I’m not alone. According to this recent Vox article, 28% of the estimated 41.8 million caregivers in the U.S. are millennials. Unlike parenting, caring for an elderly family member doesn’t get easier with time, but harder. So, how do you establish your career while also caring for those you love?
Break the stigma
Despite most of us having parents or relatives who are aging, elder care isn’t something we discuss at brunch. You won’t get an in-office celebration when you become responsible for someone. You have to decide how to let others know that your reality has shifted.
- Be honest with your boss and, if you feel comfortable, your co-workers. The more we talk about it, the more prepared others who come after us will be.
- Find your tribe. It amazed me how many people, usually senior colleagues, had also cared for loved ones and knew how to help.
- If your company doesn’t have a support group to join, think about creating one to share tips and resources.
Assess and divest
If you are shouldering caring responsibilities, know that these responsibilities will likely grow exponentially. You will have to make decisions on what you do.
- You can’t know what will happen, but you can make educated guesses. Write down where you want to be professionally in a year, then overlay different caring scenarios (for example – you have to move from full-time to part-time work to provide in-home care).
- Examine your daily workload and be honest about your capacity – now and in the future. Those last-minute deadlines and all-nighters might have to go. Explore with your manager if you can move away from certain projects or shift to a task-based schedule. Leverage your HR and learn about your legal FMLA policies and any flex options you can take.
- Get real with your extracurricular activities. If a board seat is too much to handle, speak to the chair and request either a pause or to be removed.
- Adapt! That project management certificate you wanted might have to wait – but you can take a few sessions here and there. You aren’t giving up, but you are accommodating your new reality.
Save now (and tell others)
Caregiving is expensive and unpredictable. Save for your loved one, but perhaps more important – save for yourself so, when your time comes to need care, you and the people who love you will be ready.
- Get serious about retirement. Put aside what you can in a ROTH IRA account. The max is $6000 per year.
- Take a financial management class to get your finances in order. I highly recommend 3rd Decade’s Building Financial Futures (it’s FREE!)
- End of life planning is crucial – for yourself and your loved one. If you don’t have Power of Attorney over the person you are caring for, get it if you still can.
- Look ahead, especially if your parents are getting older. Project your care costs with your future earnings and invest in the skills you need now that can help you make the money you need later.
While caregiving is isolating, remember you aren’t alone and you can still grow your career while taking care of those you love.
Resources
AARP – Family Caregiving
What every caregiver needs to know about money
The Alzheimer’s Association – Caregiving guide
VYP op-eds provide an opportunity for VYP board members to share their viewpoints. These opinion pieces reflect the opinion of the author, and do not reflect official positions of the Greater Phoenix Chamber.
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