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. |
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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. |
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3. |
Pack it up, pack it
out. Store unused furniture, appliances
and occasional-use items like camping gear and ski equipment
at Shurgard. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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| 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. |
