Balancing Work and Elder Care Through the Coronavirus Crisis

While much attention has been paid in recent days to the difficulties of parents trying to balance their professional responsibilities with home-tutoring children whose schools have been shuttered, there are also millions of people who are juggling work and elder care in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Some are attempting to work from home with a sick mother or father who needs attention. Some have stopped allowing professionals health aides to enter their parents’ residences for fear of exposure to coronavirus. Many are just operating under incredible stress, unable to communicate with relatives who are in lockdown in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These working daughters and sons should do four things. First, employ   technology and routines:  set parents up with phones or even video conferencing capabilities and make sure their days are calm and predictable. Second, set boundaries:  explain what is going on and that you will need uninterrupted time to work from home. Third, ask for flexibility (and some forgiveness) from managers and co-workers:  be transparent about your responsibilities. And fourth, managing your own well-being: get plenty of rest, hydrate yourself, eat well and exercise.