Choosing Between Work and Caregiving | It’s a busy day at work. You’re sitting in an important meeting with your boss while your thoughts drift to your after-work chores – driving your daughter to basketball practice, picking up groceries, and dropping off your prescription. Suddenly, you get a call from the hospital – your mother had a fall at home and is in the emergency room. Now, you must rearrange your priorities and rush to the hospital. This is the reality for many caregivers who work. According to our Spotlight Report, approximately 2.5 million Ontarians are balancing their careers while caring for someone. 54% of working caregivers find that balancing work and care is stressful, and 40% have considered leaving their jobs to provide better care. Working caregivers play a crucial role in the well-being of their care recipients and the overall healthcare system. These individuals often juggle jobs, families, and caregiving duties, which can create significant stress and financial strain. | Carla's Caregiving Journey as a Young Professional Carla's journey as a caregiver began in 2011, when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's Disease. As part of an immigrant family facing language barriers, she took on the role of advocating for her mother's needs with healthcare providers, ensuring her mother remained actively engaged in her care plan. Whether it was accompanying her mother to a doctor's appointment or translating complex medical terms, this experience made her aware of the challenges of being a caregiver within the healthcare system. Simultaneously, Carla was actively pursuing and progressing in her career, often trying to keep her caregiver role completely separate. She experienced challenges and limitations in maintaining work-life boundaries while juggling both roles without the necessary supports. | | The ever-evolving nature of her mother’s health condition and needs made Carla realize the importance of caregiver-friendly practices, policies and benefits in the workplace. Throughout this journey, she continuously redefined what balance between work and caregiving meant for her. Some days, she was deeply focused on meeting work deadlines, setting up supports to ensure her mother received the help she needed. On other days, she adjusted her schedule to prioritize her mother’s appointments and needs. Carla has provided us with some tips on how she navigated her career while being a caregiver: -Identify employers or sectors that are committed to creating a safe space that recognizes and supports working caregivers. -Advocate for yourself by having open and transparent conversations with employers about your caregiving responsibilities. -Ask your employers about flexible work arrangements and time-off policies such as personal days, caregiver days, or employee assistance programs including mental health support, etc. Ongoing conversations with employers are crucial to fostering a workplace culture that recognizes and supports the diverse needs of working caregivers across our province. | At OCO, we continue to work with employers and system leaders to address issues affecting caregivers in every aspect of their journey. Understanding their experiences, challenges, and the supports available is essential for building a more compassionate society. Change is possible. In the last 5 years perceptions and practices are improving in the workforce. About 20% more caregivers feel their work is flexible to allow them to manage caregiving responsibilities, while there is a 10% increase in caregivers who feel their employer understands their caregiving role. “Within my workplace, we have started an open discussion about employee resource groups on how we all cope with challenges and can support each other. We have hosted webinars on caregiving to our members and seen how engaged people are with this topic. To me it signals a real recognition by business that there is a need to support caregivers in the workplace and a hunger for the tools and resources that organizations like the Ontario Caregiver Organization provides.” - Lisa Kelly of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. In Ontario, the demand on caregivers continue to increase, highlighting the need for a stronger support system. By recognizing and addressing the needs of working caregivers, employers can enhance both individual well-being and the overall workplace environment. October is Healthy Workplace Month. Download our Work and Caregiving: A Balancing act Toolkit to help you manage caregiving and work responsibilities. | Don't Let Caregiving Derail Your Financial Future | When it comes to the financial side of caregiving, it could be a juggling act for many caregivers. Whether it’s a sudden medical expense, a car repair, or an unexpected job loss, having a financial plan in place can make a big difference and provide you a peace of mind. In our latest Spotlight Report, we found that four-in-ten (39%) caregivers face financial hardship because of their caregiving responsibilities. More caregivers are using their savings or investments to cover expenses associated with caregiving. In this OCO webinar, Shannon Lee Simmons, a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager, shares some tips on how you can prepare for a rainy day. - Map Out Your Finances and Focus on What Matters Most - Create a micro timeline (i.e. 3 days or 2 weeks) to track your income and expenses, you can identify areas where you can cut back and save more. Prioritize essential expenses like rent, groceries, utilities, and loan payments. Allocate a portion of your income to savings right at the beginning of the month. You can also use apps or other online tools to track your spending, it can help you categorize your expenses and understand where your money is going.
- Strategic and Practical Budgeting Tips - Identify areas where you can cut back on spending like eating out, entertainment, or impulse purchases. Reduce unnecessary expenses and redirect the money saved into your rainy-day fund. It is also important to prioritize and avoid consumer debt such as credit card debt or expensive line of credit, not to be confused with mortgage or car payments, but loans that have high interest rates.
- Plan for the Future - Unexpected events can happen at any time. Having a small buffer in your budget for unexpected emergencies can help you avoid challenges when something comes up without resorting to borrowing or falling into debt. It can also serve as a stepping stone for achieving long-term financial goals. Look for a savings account that offers higher interest rates to make the most of your savings over time.
Remember, even small contributions to your savings can add up over time. It’s never too late to start preparing so you can face any financial challenges that life may throw your way. Explore What Financial Supports Are Available to You | Find Emotional Support and Encourgement Through Our Peer Support Program Caregiving can be emotionally, physically, and mentally demanding. Learn how you can share and discuss your concerns with someone who understands. Connect With Another Caregiver | | October 17: Planning a Positive Transition to Long-Term Care Join OCO and Family Councils Ontario (FCO) to learn how to prepare a transition to long-term care. Register Now | | October 8: SCALE Program Returns With New Content Don’t miss this chance to learn new strategies to balance your busy schedule. Check Out the New SCALE Program | | October 28: What Caregivers Need to Know About Financial Wellness 4 in 10 caregivers face financial hardship. In this webinar with Credit Canada, receive information on how to avoid bankruptcy, become debt-free, and achieve financial wellness. Register Now | | November 14: The Ontario Caregiver Organization Virtual Open House 2024 Learn about OCO's free programs and services for caregivers. Join the Open House | | Are You a "Double Duty Caregiver"? | If you're working in a job where you care for others, and also provide support to a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, you are a double duty caregiver. Balancing these responsibilities can bring unique forms of emotional strain. OCO and CMHA Ontario’s Your Health Space are inviting you to take part in a 3-part webinar series as part of Healthy Workplace Month. This series is designed to help double-duty caregivers learn practical strategies, find resources, and connect for additional support. October 8: Caregiver Stress and Burnout October 22: Empathic Strain October 29: Balancing Work and Care | | Listen: Cindy Yip shares her personal journey as a caregiver for her father with multiple heart conditions, as well as the challenges she face juggling different roles and identity while pursuing a healthcare career. | | Watch it again: Balancing Work and Care: Finding Strategies that Work for You. Discover useful OCO tools that can support your work and caregiving responsibilities. | | Share With a Friend Did you find this newsletter useful? Please share with someone you know who may benefit from OCO's free programs and services, resources and stories. | | | | |