Care Planning Like a Pro: 4 Steps Young Caregivers Can Take Right Now

Caregiving is an honor. It stretches us in ways that we never imagined, and there are joyful moments. As a caregiver myself, the first thing I would tell any young caregiver is to celebrate your wins. If today was a good day, celebrate it.

But hear me out: caregiving is also an emotional rollercoaster. It is an experience full of constant change, thanklessness, and many stages of grief and mourning.

As a young caregiver, you will face many difficulties. Celebrating and remembering your wins and happy moments can help carry you through difficult times.

What Difficulties Do Young Caregivers Face?

According to American Senior Communities, the everyday challenges of a family caregiver include:

problems managing time
emotional and physical stress
lack of privacy
money problems
decreased sleep
fear of asking for help
feelings of depression and isolation.

A recent study revealed that 60% of first-time caregivers are Gen Z or millennials. As young caregivers, you face the additional challenges of having fewer financial resources and being earlier and possibly less secure in your career. Young caregivers are also sandwiched between caring for young families and their older parents or grandparents, which is a challenging task that requires different skill sets.

Care Planning is Essential for Young Caregivers

Making decisions for someone who is used to being independent but no longer can be is hard. Planning can ease this burden and help you develop routines and avoid decision fatigue.

Think of it like meal prepping. Now, you can’t “set it and forget it” like a crockpot when caring for your family member or loved one. But planning — having tools ready to go and people in place to help with the many swift changes involved in caregiving — is essential. Set a strong caregiver foundation by doing these four things now.

Caregiver Foundation: 4 things to do now if you haven’t already:

1. Pick your go-to team.

These are the four or five people you can call for anything. The team will change over time, but pick your starting five and get them up to date on the situation as soon as possible. Using technology, a GroupMe chat, text thread, or Zoom meetings may be a good option.

Let your team do things for you and your loved one, like prepare and deliver meals or pick up medications. If your loved one is in a facility, ask if they can come to sit with them and give you a break. Let them handle things that are not urgent, like checking the mail. Ask them to stay in touch with your friends and family that are not a part of your go-to team. The goal is to delegate to your team so that you can focus on your loved one and yourself.

2. Survey your support options and resources.

Many employers have resources for caregivers. Some companies have employee assistance programs (EAP) that offer caregiver support and mental health support. Even if you have never done counseling or therapy before, try out this service if you can. Most EAP programs allow for six visits per concern. Here’s an example of how you could use your visits:

First six visits – the anxiety of being a new caregiver
Second six visits – the stress of managing work and family
Third six visits – dealing with depression

Each company is different, so you’ll have to review your company’s policy and clearly understand what is allowed.

Many companies offer sick time and enable you to use it to care for a sick family member. Also, there are federal protections in place if you need to leave work for a Family Medical Leave. Review the Family Medical Leave Act and your company’s leave policy if you need time away from work. Use this information to choose the right time to tell your Human Resource representative about your caregiver journey.

3. Re prioritize

Learn to say no, set boundaries, and communicate that you are going through a significant life change. Communicate like you would if you took a job out of town for two months. You don’t need to share all the details with every person, but explain that you will be taking a step back from other matters and cannot add anything else to your plate right now. Take a hard look at what may need to be put on the back burner until you figure out your new routine. Life will look different, and that is ok.

4. Ask for help.

You can’t do this alone, so ask for help. Start with your starting five so that you can have time for self-care and to recharge.

For medical and technical questions, talk to your loved one’s doctor or provider. Often, the best way to get a fast response is to send a message through their electronic chart or text if allowed. Doctors and medical providers can connect you with social workers, adult daycares, psychologists, and other support services. Start there if your loved one doesn’t have a primary care doctor/provider.

For help, if your loved one is uninsured, reach out to your local county hospital or health department.

Be a Young Caregiver with a Strong Foundation

Caregiving has difficult moments. Set a strong caregiver foundation and create a strong support system as you continue on this journey. You can do this, starting with these four steps. Take time for self-care, accept that your way of life is changing, and celebrate the wins and good moments as they come.

If you have concerns about work and your caregiving journey, note that The Protecting Family Caregivers from Discrimination Act of 2020 was introduced in the U.S. Senate. This bill keeps employers from making employment decisions about employees or people interviewing for jobs due to their family caregiver responsibilities. The bill also addresses employer retaliation.

As of February 2022, this bill has not been passed. Ask your friends and family that want to help, but may not be part of your go-to team, to reach out to their congressional representatives about supporting this bill.

– – –