Helpline: Finding a balance between work and caring

Managing paid work and caring for your loved one with dementia is a delicate juggling act, with many balls in the air at a time. While it’s tricky to keep from dropping any, it doesn’t always have to be an either/or decision between caregiving and your career.

This episode will give you practical strategies for approaching your employer and finding ways to balance both roles without losing yourself in the process.

If you’d like personalised advice on how to balance both worlds, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day, or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind.

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Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios.

Follow Dementia Australia on Facebook and Instagram or find support resources on our website.

This episode was hosted by Jim Rogers and Kristin, a National Dementia Helpline Advisor. It was produced by Luci McAfee. Executive producers are Gia Moylan and Kellie Riordan.

The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government.

Dementia Australia and Deadset Studios acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Dementia Australia acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Australian Government for this initiative.

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
- When your loved ones beingdiagnosed with dementia.
Caring can feel like a full-time job.
And of course, you might bejuggling this new caring role
while you're also stillin the paid workforce.
Hi, I'm Jim Rogers, andthis is Hold The Moment.
It's a podcast by peopleliving with dementia
and their families.

(00:27):
So how can you balance your care
and responsibilities with your career?
We have an episode ofHold The Moment on that very topic.
So make sure you've
already listened to that.
But did you know you can also call the
National Dementia Helpline anytime
on 1800 100 500.
And speak to an advisor like Kristen.

(00:49):
She's here to help you thinkabout an arrangement that works
for both you, and your employer.
- Supporting someone who's living
with dementia isn't done in a vacuum.
You might find that yourcaring role starts to compete
with other things that youneed to do in your life such
as work, volunteering, caringfor other family members.

(01:13):
Even things like exercise or socialising.
One of the things thatyou can do, is look at ways
to continue to do thethings that you enjoy.
Even if you need to adapt them.
Some workplaces can be flexibleabout changing the schedule
so that you might be ableto work different days

(01:33):
or possibly part-timeso that you can continue
to support your lovedone, as well as work.
Other times, employers aren't as flexible.
And it can be really difficult
to make a decision about changing the work
that you do, bothfinancially and career wise.

(01:54):
You might find that youremployer is initially flexible
about working arrangements,
and that you're doing okaybalancing your caring role
and your work role.
But dementia is a progressive disease.
It is something thatchanges from day-to-day.
And you might find asthose changes happen,
that you continuously have to evaluate

(02:16):
what things in your life arestill working and what aren't.
And whether it's time to makea shift to more part-time work.
Or, to look at havingpeople come into the home
to provide some supportso that you can continue
to engage in the thingsthat are important to you.
If it feels like your employer
or other people around you arebecoming less flexible with

(02:40):
what you need, sometimes it can be helpful
to let them know about dementia.
It is okay if you wantto continue to work.
Even though your loved one mayneed additional caring support.
You might also find thatfinancially it's essential
for you to continue to work.

(03:04):
- For more tips on how to balance
your work schedule while you're caring
for a loved one with dementia.
You can contact theNational Dementia Helpline
on 1800 100 500.
The free Helpline is available24 hours a day.
Every day of the year.
And there's plenty more episodes
of Hold The Moments podcastavailable right now.

(03:27):
Either in your favourite podcast app, or,
on the Dementia Australia website.
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