1. |
Claim your Space.Give everyone a space to call their own. Make room for
additional family members by cleaning out spare
bedrooms or dad's den. |
2. |
Make Room to Grow.
Refurbish the garage, basement or attic to create
an apartment. Everyone will be more comfortable
when they have their own space. |
3. |
Pack it up, pack it out.
Store unused furniture, appliances and occasional-use
items like camping gear and ski equipment at
Shurgard. |
4. |
Keep the Doors Open.
Schedule weekly family meetings to talk openly
about issues and added responsibilities. Contact
your local social service agencies to join a
support group with other Sandwich Generation
families. |
5. |
Money Talks.
Investigate financial options such as automatic
bill paying, direct deposit and power of attorney
for parents, allowing the caretaker the legal
right to manage finances. |
6. |
Pitch In & Clean Up.
A little help goes a long way. Hire a cleaning
or lawn service to help with the weekly chores
to take some of the household responsibilities
off the main caretaker. |
7. |
Dinner Time.
Assign each member of the family a night to
cook dinner or schedule an aide to cook a few
meals each week. Your doctor may have suggestions
for healthy, prepackaged meals. |
8. |
Sit Tight.
Enlist your kids, extended family and friends
to stay with elderly parents, if constant care
is required. This gives the main caretaker a
break and may even foster closer family relationships. |
9. |
Benefits. Talk
to your employer about company benefits. Millions
of Americans are caring for elderly parents,
and companies are responding by providing healthcare
plans including elder care. |
|
10. |
Take Care of Yourself.
Don't spread yourself too thin. Carve out special
time for yourself and incorporate enjoyable
rituals into your daily routine. |