If there’s one particular positive after-effect of the pandemic, it’s the awareness generated for the plight of family caregivers. Managing work and home life has long been a tremendous challenge for those taking care of aging parents. As Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO of Wellthy, explains, “Caregiving went from a silent struggle to being in the spotlight overnight.”
Businesses were unexpectedly placed into the fire of navigating a world of managing the safety of staff with the need to uphold productivity. Here’s what we learned – and what we should expect in the future:
- More telecommuting. Those who began working at home within the last year have, in many cases, demonstrated their capability to be more productive. Consequently, it is forecast that as much as 25 – 30% of the workforce within the United States will continue telecommuting at least several days weekly this year.
- Less stress. Doing away with the daily commute opens up additional time for self-care for family caregivers, while enhancing peace of mind. This is particularly true for individuals who relied on public transportation and were wary of compromised health safety. To help boost mental wellness, many employers are offering subscriptions to mindfulness and meditation smartphone apps.
- A corporate culture of caring. Working from home has exposed the personal portions of our lives to employers. Zoom meetings share our living spaces with each other, including the appearance of children, pets, and other loved ones. Due to this fact, the workplace is now more humanized, leading to a much more empathetic working environment.
- Focus on mental health. Along those lines, there is also now enhanced awareness of the importance of looking after our psychological state. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll revealed that nearly 45 percent of adults experienced negative mental wellness affects as a result of the pandemic – and an even greater percentage in those who serve as family caregivers for older loved ones. Many employers are now implementing approaches to attend to the mental health of their employees, such as offering virtual adventures and trips to give the chance to relax and escape.
Let Seniorcorp, provider of elder care in Virginia Beach, VA and nearby areas, further help promote a better work-life balance with our dependable respite care services. Regular, ongoing respite care is vital to the all-around wellness of family caregivers. Our compassionate and skilled care team is readily available to help with anything from just a couple hours each week up to 24/7 care. Give us a call at 757-640-0557 to request a free in-home assessment to find out more.
