
Is finding aged care stressful? I was chuffed to be asked to be part of an interview on ABC Radio Adelaide earlier this month. Finally people are starting to talk about how stressful and tough it is on the aged care journey.
When people contacted the radio show and shared their experiences, each and every one of them spoke about the emotional side of aged care, some fighting back tears as they described the guilt and emotions of putting their aged loved ones in care.
A survey was conducted by Aged Care Reviews and Apia which showed that over 50% say that finding suitable aged care is the most stressful situation.
Yes it is stressful however the continued care is also stressful especially for the sandwich generation that are still raising their own family, working full time and caring for their aged loved one. Yes the care continues even if your aged loved one is in an aged care facility and so the stresses continue.
Having been through the caring journey our advice is to find your support network, ask for help, you don’t have to do this alone and take the time to care for yourself so you can go on caring for your loved ones.
We see it all the time people running around running themselves into the ground.
With an Ageing workforce caring for an ageing population the stress of aged care needs to be at the forefront of employers concerns.
Unplanned absenteeism is on the rise and there is no coincidence that an ageing workforce is caring for an ageing population.
These squeezed workers feel vulnerable. “Sandwich-generation workers are terrified of losing their jobs, so they keep their situation under the radar,” Kathie Lingle, director of the Alliance for Work-Life Progress.
Depression and anxiety are a huge risk factor for the sandwich generation, especially for women who are involved in caring for loved ones.
On the contrary, men, and some women, are typically at risk for loss of career development. They might be at the peak of their career and have to take a step down and lose their opportunity to be able to help care for their aging parent or growing children.
This isn’t only a workplace issue it is also a community issue. By providing the support your staff needs you are indirectly helping the community.
Being at the forefront and shining a light on a much misunderstood and needed support – support for the sandwich generation.
We provide programs for employers to help their staff during this difficult time. Give us a call to find out how we can help you help your staff or check out my resources page.