Using Paid Leave to Care for Aging Loved Ones

You used a half day of paid leave to take your dad to an appointment with his cardiologist.

After a hospital stay, you used five days of paid leave to help your mom transition back home.

Sound familiar?

Sandwich Generation

A new study shows men and women are now more likely to use paid time off to care for older loved ones instead of children or grandchildren. The study, which used data gathered between 1998 and 2016, examined the effect of a 2004 California law which required employers to offer paid leave to employees. As a result of this rule, researchers found a 17% decrease in paid time off used for child care and a nearly 50% increase in time spend caring for older relatives.”

“It’s something we see a lot – adult children using paid leave to care for aging loved ones, because they think that’s the only option,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations director at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “At HCAN, we help take some of the burden off family caregivers, so they can get some of that time back.”

Professional Caregivers an Option

HCAN’s professional caregivers can help with:

• Light housekeeping – vacuuming, dusting, changing bed linens, laundry and clearing clutter. 
• Meal preparation – grocery shopping and helping plan/prepare healthy, nutritious meals.
• Medication reminders – assisting with medication management to ensure the right doses are taken at the right time.
• Mobility assistance – helping seniors safely get in and out of chairs, bed and the bathtub/shower.
• Transportation – driving clients to and from appointments, errands, shopping, recreational activities and more.
• Personal care – assisting with bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting.
• Dementia care – allowing clients to remain in a familiar environment, instead of moving to a senior living community.

“At HCAN, we work very closely with families to develop care plans that meet their senior loved ones’ unique needs,” Goetz said. “Whether it’s for a few hours a week or around-the-clock, we can help their loved ones age safely in their homes, while giving them much needed peace of mind.”

To learn more about our in-home services, visit hcanthrive.com or call your local HCAN-supported office.