Fall is rolling in and you know what that means - school shopping, learning new things, and busy schedules! While beginning a new school year is certainly exciting, it can also be a challenging time for senior caregivers.

Children, no matter how old they are, can supply much-needed support for senior family members during the summer. Older kids might help with chores such as walking the dog or mowing the lawn, while younger children can engage grandparents in different ways, providing socialization and entertainment. Baking cookies with grandma is more than just a fun afternoon; it’s an engaging activity that makes them feel productive and connected.

When school begins, however, not only does that extra support go away, but as a caregiver, you’re also left juggling everything on your own -school activities, work obligations, and caring for your elderly parents.

Nearly 23% of adults in the U.S. provided regular care for a senior within the last 30 days. That’s over 75 million people, so you are not alone.

With a little help and a lot of planning, you can balance a successful caregiving schedule with your other duties.

Plan and Prioritize

It may seem obvious, but planning is key to keeping your sanity. But making a to-do list is just the beginning. Here are some helpful tips for making a plan that leaves a little breathing room so you can avoid burnout.

Prioritize Need Over Want

Quite simply, some things need to be done - appointments, ensuring medicines are taken on time, and after-school care for the kids. Unfortunately, there are times when personal tasks like hair appointments, social engagements, or even cleaning may take a backseat to other responsibilities. Everything on your to-do list may not get done, and that’s okay! This is why prioritizing is so important. Know what to prioritize and commit to at least completing these tasks.

Let (Some of) it Go

It takes a village! You have a better chance at success if you learn to relinquish a bit of control. If it’s financially feasible, bringing in service providers helps to lessen the weight and overwhelm caregiving can bring.

Online platforms have made hiring - for anything you may imagine -incredibly easy. Curious about what you can outsource?

• Cleaning
• Lawn Care
• Laundry
• Grocery Shopping
• Meal Kit Delivery
• Home Maintenance
• Bookkeeping
• Transportation
• General Errands

Enlist the Help of Your Siblings

No siblings? No problem! Rally friends, cousins, aunts and uncles, adult children, and even neighbors to form a support group. Even if you’re able to hire help to come in and take care of household chores and other tasks, your social circle provides invaluable support.

You don’t have to coordinate everything alone. When you sit down for your assessment, ComForCare works with you to find out what you already do as the primary caregiver and helps to give you a realistic expectation of what you might need to delegate to avoid burnout.

Make Time for You

Simple but not always easy. You know the cliche but very true aphorism, you have to put your oxygen mask on before you can help others. This rings true even in everyday caregiving. Whether you make time to take a 15-minute walk at lunch or block out an evening for a monthly book club, it’s important to carve out time in the schedule to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Often, we’re not aware of just how much time goes into everything we do. When you realize family caregivers spend up to 24.4 hours per week providing care, you begin to take into account just how much the responsibility can weigh on you. We know you’re happy to care for and spend time with your senior parent or family member. However, if you neglect yourself in the process, you won’t be able to give them your full presence and energy when it is time to be there.

Caring for your senior family member is a rewarding experience, but it doesn’t come without compromises. With a strong support system and a solid plan in place, you can create and maintain a manageable caregiving schedule that’s beneficial for everyone involved.

If you need help managing your schedule, it’s time to reach out to ComForCare. Our amazing home care staff makes sure your schedule, tasks, and number of visits per week are designed around your loved one.

Whether your loved one needs assistance only a few hours a week or around-the-clock, our team is happy to help! Call (781) 821-2800 to learn more about the transition care services offered through ComForCare Home Care (Canton, MA).