How to Know When it’s Time to Quit Your Job to Care for Your Parent

It’s human nature to feel called to provide care for a loved one in need. Whether a sick child staying home from school or an aging parent, home care services are a part of all of our lives. When it comes to aging parents, at-home care usually begins with a weekly visit to see if they need to run an errand or to just spend time together. However, this weekly check-in can quickly turn into a much larger commitment when a parent suffers from a chronic condition or a debilitating disease such as Alzheimer’s. It’s during this time that a family caregiver will be faced with the decision of whether or not to leave their job in order to provide home care full time for their parent.

Deciding to leave a job to care for a parent is a decision that should not be taken lightly, so it’s important to consider the pros and cons. Here are some things to think about before quitting your job to become a full time family caregiver:

• The Money You Save: Paying for in-home care services, adult day care, or facility care can be very expensive. By caring for your family member, you will likely save them several thousands of dollars a month by avoiding the cost of home care services.
• The Peace of Mind You Gain: You know the needs of your parents and understand them better than anyone else. By caring for a parent, you can rest assured that the care they are receiving is always in their best interest.
• The Money You Lose: Leaving a job means there will be less money coming in. Having a sound financial plan that outlines how you will get by without this income is essential before quitting.
• The Opportunities You Miss: Getting out of the workforce means you will miss out on much more than a salary. These lost opportunities include: loss of benefits, not acquiring new job skills, and a lack of a professional network.

It’s important to understand that not everyone is ready to be a full-time family caregiver and it’s okay to seek help from a PCA agency. To learn more about starting senior home care services for a parent or how to get paid for taking care of a family member, contact Best Home Care today!