Question for the younger caregivers

AlzWife2023

I’m 51 caring for 80 year old spouse. This is a question for people like me who have given up work to be full time care givers. How do you plan for your future? What steps have you taken to stay active and engaged mentally, physically, creatively, socially, and career-wise? What are your plans for returning to paid work outside of caregiving? It’s so hard to plan not knowing how the disease will progress.

Smilescountry

I am not younger, but I can tell you something that I have done. I retired two years ago, but I retired from a job that has a severe shortage of skilled workers. I went back to work this school year for just two and one half hours a day at the end of the work day. It has been the best decision that I have made. I take care of my parents of a morning, I go to work later in the afternoon, and then I spend the later afternoon and evening with my husband and with my parents, if needed. They are in a facility, but I take care of many of their needs and am their POA and HCR. If something happens to my parents in the next couple of years, I will have the option of working more hours if I like. For me, keeping involved in my career, even with shortened hours, has helped me keep positive and has actually been good therapy with everything else that is going on. I don't know what career that you had, but many careers these days accept people who can work part time.

AlzWife2023

Hi @smilescounty. Thanks for your post. I worked in education for 25 years. I did have a nice one day/week job teaching in the fall, but it was too much at the time. The classroom may be too much for me now, except maybe for subbing or after school. The prep is non-stop and so in the stress!

I think once I get all his benefits sorted and I can either afford PCA care for a few hours of the insurance pays for it, I might look for p/t work again. I know I want to meet people and be in the world. Every time I see a former student at the supermarket or somewhere else in the community, it makes me so happy.

I have been doing some freelance editing from home for a friend and it is just pocket money, but I am enjoying it so much!