Q. How many hours can caregivers work a day? My mother shouldn’t be alone.

A. In most cases, the number of hours a caregiver works in a day is divided by a two-week period of time, rather than per day. This allows caregivers to work three to four 12-hour shifts in one week without working overtime, but also helps maintain consistency with the same caregiver. If your mother requires 24-hour care, that will normally involve a team of four or five staff who will share the shifts throughout the week. If she is ok at night then the shifts will still be divided, but with fewer people.

 

 

Q. My company’s HR department is advertising eldercare seminars. I’m not exactly looking after my parents yet, but they are getting older. Should I attend?

A. Eldercare talks are an excellent way to start the process of learning about the resources that are available for you and your parents. Reading this magazine is a good start, too. There’s a lot to think about, including meal preparation, shopping, home maintenance, finances, doctor’s visits and so on. It is much better to have the information already, rather than to be scrambling for ideas and help when you are in crisis.

To submit questions about caregiving, either leave a comment or email us at solutions@bcsgroup.com

 

 

Tags: nursing home, providing care, Q&A, senior residents, seniors, WeCare