The number of seniors in the United States is projected to nearly double from 54 million in 2021 to 95 million by 2060 (prb.org). It’s no surprise then that more and more people are finding themselves caring for their aging parents or loved ones. The question “should I quit my job to be a full time caregiver?” is asked by so many when deciding the best way to care for their beloved senior. It’s a tough question to answer and one that will be asked continuously for many years to come. Regardless of the answer, companies like 2nd Family will continue to be tapped, if not for full time care, for supplemental care for the foreseeable future.
When we talk with potential clients and they voice that all too familiar question, “should I quit my job to be a full time caregiver?”, it is usually asked as a last resort. And it should be. Caregiver fatigue is a real thing and can affect the most well intentioned people. There’s even a new condition diagnosable by medical professionals called Caregiver Stress Syndrome. Being a caregiver to a senior loved one is a full time job with no time off and just like any other stressful job, can cause you to burn out quickly. But unlike any other stressful job, your relationship with and feelings towards the person you’re caring for can change and unfortunately not always for the better. By no fault of the senior needing care, full time caregivers have a higher chance of experiencing bouts of extreme fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
Trying to decide whether to quit your job to become a full time caregiver is stressful and trying to input every possible variable and predict every outcome is impossible. So it’s important to look at your career as a whole. Losing momentum in your career can disrupt more than present. We started 2nd Family as a way to help families not have to make this tough decision. It’s an incredible challenge to return to a job after taking several years off to care for a senior loved one and not feel behind. If you are part of what is now called the “Sandwich Generation” then the question of quitting your job to become a caregiver becomes even more stressful; not only are you caring for a senior loved one but you are caring for children as well. We always encourage families in these types of situations to continue working and use us to supplement care.
Lastly, hiring a company like us is usually more feasible than quitting your job, not to mention safer for the senior needing care. If you would like to learn more about starting your own senior home care franchise or industry trends, reach out and let’s start the conversation.