Assuming the role of caregiver for a loved one can be challenging and with the amount of stress and aggravation that comes with the job, you would think that the caregiver would rather turn the loved one over to a nursing home or other organized care facility. However, the opposite it true! While the trials and tribulations of caregiving can be quite intense, most of the time caregivers are grateful to have had that time with their loved ones. They report that it is an experience they were glad to have, despite the problems – financially, emotionally and physically. For them, the positive experiences far outweighed the negative and they would choose the caregiving role over again over institutional care. Here are a few of the reasons why:

1.  Life and responsibilities get in the way of maintaining close ties sometimes with family members so when one requires the need of a caregiver, you should view it as an opportunity. Daily care of the loved one entails personal contact so you often end up engaging in long conversations about anything and everything.

There is opportunity to talk about the important things in life as well as the inconsequential ones too. You get to know each other better and learn about family history. You can laugh together and share stories about family as well as forge new memories together. Talking openly and honestly about caregiving decisions and what the future holds will cement not only those familial ties but create a newfound intimacy that is priceless. If there has ever been a time to reconcile differences or seek forgiveness, this would be it.

2.  Caregiving, while it may fall to one person in particular, still has a way of forging bonds with other family members such as siblings who may share in the concern of the loved one. Collaborating with family forces communication, first to benefit the loved one who needs care and then it extends into other familial realms. You just might end up learning more about your family and appreciating the differences that everyone brings to the table. While deciding on caregiving responsibilities can be heartbreaking and stressful in certain situation, it also has a way to bring families together.

3.  Making a difference in someone’s life, especially a loved one like your parent, can be quite satisfying. Yes, it can be tiring, emotionally draining and nerve wracking at times but at the heart of it all, there is a strong love and need to give back the support that loved one always gave you. You may view the opportunity to take care of a loved one as a gift because the time you spend with them could not be recouped if they lived in a nursing home or some other institutional care. Many caregivers report that their families benefit through stronger familial ties with the loved one and positive ideals and principles are indoctrinated in their children.

4.  A whole new world is opened to you when you assume a caregiver role. All of the sudden you will find that many others around you are serving the same role and you are not alone. Through support groups and meetings, you will meet new people and learn so much about health care advances as well as tips on making your job easier. You end up forging new relationships that could last for years.

Playing the role of caregiver can be quite rewarding. However, as your loved one’s condition starts to decline, there is a fine line between the benefits of caregiving on your own and seeking an institution of some kind that could offer better care. Consulting with your loved one as well as your family and the doctor is important. Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease could end up requiring 24 hour supervision, something you may not be equipped to handle. Knowing when institutional care is necessary is part of the growth process for a caregiver.

It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed when faced with assuming the role of caregiver. There are a number of people in this country who are now taking care of their parents in their declining years. You may have actually been a caregiver for years without realizing it before an accident or event changed your perception. Do you feel you are even a caregiver? Here are some signs that indicate you soon will be if you are not already:

1.  Your once vibrant dad is now being plagued with a lot of little health problems, nothing earth-shattering or life-threatening – but enough to hamper his lifestyle.

2.  You find your loved one’s bank statements and unpaid bills laying on their desk unopened when they were once really diligent about paying on time.

3.  Loss of interest in the hobbies or regular socializing your loved one normally does. Perhaps your elderly dad’s workshop has not been opened in a while or that weekly card game has now become a thing of the past.

4.  Regular household chores are not being done such as mowing the lawn, washing dishes or fixing a leak in the sink.

5.  There is not an adequate food supply present to feed your ailing parent or they become inattentive when cooking or baking, burning food.

6.  Grooming has become slack and your once polished parent is now a bit disheveled.

7.  Being distracted and inattentiveness in your loved one are also signs that you may soon become a caregiver.

If you feel that your parent may almost be ready for a caregiver, talk with them about it. Involve your aging parents in the process so they have some input in their own care. Of course, if there is some cognitive impairment in your parent, it is still important to include them in the decision-making. This will make them feel included and not so isolated about their situation. Help them navigate the internet on the computer so they can read for themselves the positive benefits of caregiving.

Once your role as caregiver is inevitable, create a job description so you know what to expect from yourself and get your loved one’s input as they will be the recipient of this care. Get other family members, friends and neighbors lined up and on board to serve stand-by for those times when you need help. If you do not have much of a support system, look into local home health care agencies or companions, depending on your loved one’s needs. Be sure to stick to the guidelines you set up for yourself and respect your time off because you will need it to recharge your internal batteries.

You do not have to shoulder the burden of caregiving alone. Check with the AAA, the Area Agency on Aging and look for a local office. They and many other entities like them can provide you with leads on home companions, nursing assistance and even assisted living facilities or adult day care. Know what your options are now before immersing yourself in the caregiving role.

If possible, involve your aging parent in your caregiving decisions. If you plan to use an adult day care, take them on a tour of the facility to ensure there will be enough activities to keep them engaged. Interviewing for a home health care nurse, allow your parent to meet with the interviewee. This will give you a chance to see how well they would interact together.

Find a positive spin for all of these caregiving changes in your aging parent’s life. If a companion is coming to the home to help cook and clean, tell your parent that now they don’t have to worry about those two chores, they have more time to visit with friends or indulge in a favorite pastime. All in all, the most important thing you can do is involve your loved one. Of course screen all possibilities first to weed out the chafe but take into consideration your loved one’s opinions. After all, they are the recipient of your caregiving efforts and should have a positive experience.

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When it comes to taking care of an aging loved one, it’s important to not only think about the needs of the person that are physical needs, such as being warm enough and being fed and bathed, but also about the needs that are more psychological.  Many caregivers notice that when the person they are caring for is more able to do things independently that they are happier.  Part of being able to do something independently is mobility; fortunately, for caregivers and for those with reducing mobility, there are many devices that can help a person with reduced mobility get around safely.

Of course, safety is a primary concern, so it’s not a good idea to encourage someone with reduced mobility to just walk around the house because it’s good for the person to be able to do things for themselves.  It’s important to keep in mind that this ability to get around the house (or get up and down the street) should not be treated as a simple goal; the benefits of having the ability to do it because of assisting devices has to be weighed against the risks that are involved with letting someone with reduced mobility head off down the street.

For elderly people who are still walking but who need some assistance to ensure that they don’t fall, there are various types of assisting walking devices.  Some people prefer a simple cane, but there are also a wide variety of walkers available which give the person even more stability.  The tough thing with using a cane is that most people only use one cane to help them walk around; while this is a good addition to one’s mobility program, it’s even better if a device is added which supports both sides of the person’s body.  Since a cane only supports one side of the person’s body, it’s very easy to become preferential to one side of the body.  Some people remember to switch the cane back and forth to the opposite side of the body each day in order to stay balanced, but the vast majority of people develop one arm that’s for the cane and the other arm is never involved with the device.  A rolling walker can provide even more stability and does not favor the left or the right side of the body.

In contexts where much more movement is required or for a person who is not at all able to walk on their own, there are many devices that can help caregivers help people with reduced mobility to get around.  For example, a scooter is a great way for many elderly people to get around because quite often their caregivers are their own spouses, a person who is also quite advanced in age in most cases.  Usually, the caregiver is not someone who can be pushing a wheelchair with an adult person in it; this is why the scooter with a built-in motor is the perfect solution for many caregivers.

In addition to the scooter itself, the best way to be able to use the scooter in multiple contexts is to get a carrier for your car.  Once you have a carrier on your car, you can transport the scooter anywhere that you need to go.  Loading the scooter onto the carrier (or into a van, for example) is completely automated at the push of a button.  Such a device ensures that caregivers and their loved ones can go to all the places they need to go without the worry of wondering how to get around once they get there or without the disappointment of always being left in the car.  Such devices as these are what make caregiving easier and easier despite the emotional stresses that remain.

For most caregivers, time isn’t the only thing demanded of them. The person who steps in to offer care to an ill family member usually also takes on the financial burden of looking after the person. The cost of giving care is tremendous physically and emotionally for the caregiver, but it can also be overwhelming financially. Medical care is extremely expensive, and most insurance plans do not cover the many of the expenses associated with long term care of a patient.

What are some of the costs that a caregiver frequently has to cope with? Obviously, the first, and usually the largest cost are the medical bills themselves. Doctor’s visits, prescriptions, hospital stays – the person who requires the care typically only has Medicare coverage that is often inadequate to meet their needs, and the caregiver often has to step in to make up the difference. There are many other costs that may enter the picture as well, however. There is the expensive of hiring home help, adult day care, or any other supplemental care that the patient might require. There is the cost of buying any medical equipment or making changes to the home that the patient may need or that may make caring for them easier. Also important to calculate in here is the lost earnings of the caregiver. Frequently, the caregiver either has to give up their job completely, take a new job that is less demanding or move to part time work, causing a marked loss in income, all while they are having to spend more.

What can you do if this sounds like the situation you are facing? First and foremost is that you must speak up and ask for help. Although it is easy for caregivers to feel resentful of family members who are not helping with the care of a sick relative, in many cases, they are uninvolved in the care because they don’t know what to do or believe you have it all covered. Sometimes, asking for help may be all that is required – you may find that other relatives are willing and able to chip in and help take the financial burden off of you.

Of course, not all families are in the position to provide this kind of help. If yours is not, there are still some resources out there for you. First, check and see what you employer has to offer. You may be surprised to find out that many employers have programs in place to help their employees meet the costs associated with providing care, like adult day care programs and home help workers. The insurance program you receive through your job might also have some benefits that you can tap into to see you through this time.

If there aren’t any benefits at work, you may be eligible to receive aid from the state. Some states “pay” people who provide care fulltime, and some states offer grants that let you hire in extra help without any cost to you.

To receive this kind of help, however, obviously you have to know where to find it. One good place to start is to seek out the local caregivers support group in your area. There is one of these groups in almost every town, and they can give you all of the info you need about the resources available to you. If you can’t find one of these groups, ask the doctor of the person you care for if they can recommend any help, or turn to the net. There is plenty of help out there, and putting in the time do some research can relieve your emotional and financial burden.

Caregiving is incredibly stressful at the best of times, but the holiday season can really add to the burden caregivers are carrying. There are many reasons the holiday season is usually not seen as a reason to celebrate for many caretakers. For one, the holidays can bring extra responsibilities, like shopping for gifts, hosting meals or parties, and the pressure to attend other holiday events. It can also be a time for increased emotional distress. The holidays generally mean that families come together – those same family members that have been unwilling to help you manage the caregiving burden throughout the rest of the year. Your caregiving responsibilities may mean that you don’t have the time you’d like to have to spend with other friends or attending holiday parties. Last but not least, it might be especially hard to cope with your loved one’s illness during the holidays, a time that is usually filled with memories of happier days.

If this sounds like the way you view the holidays as a caregiver, you should know that there are choices you can make to help the holiday season run a little more smoothly for you and to help you actually get some time to enjoy the season yourself. It all comes down to you being assertive about your needs and deciding how you’ll deal with the situations that arise. You can choose to have a happy holiday this year.

The first thing you have to come to terms with is seeing your family members that you might have some resentful feelings about. You probably want to confront them and insist that give you more help and show you some appreciation for the work you are doing. The holidays might make a handy time to have these conversations since everyone is gathered together, but you have to decide if the confrontation is worth the stress that it will cause you. If you know that it will cause a big blow up and you don’t want it hanging in the air, then choose to bite your tongue for now, enjoy your holiday, and confront your family after the season passes.

Next, you have to come up with some realistic idea of how much extra work you can put in over the holidays. Even if you are the usual host of the family holiday events – and it’s very common for the family member who has stepped up as caretaker to be the one who has stepped up for these kinds of events in the past – speak up and say that you simply can’t manage this year. If you must have the gathering in your home, ask other people to bring food so you don’t have the extra work to do. Likewise, be realistic about how much time you can spend attending holiday events yourself. Don’t feel obligated to accept every invitation, and don’t feel obligated to stay longer than you feel like when you do attend events. Make the decision not to take on the extra stress.

Last but not least, make sure to take some time out for you and your patient to enjoy some quiet time together on the holidays. Although you may be together all of the time, that may not be real, quality time. Even patients with dementia tend to hold on to their long term memories, so they may be very able to reminisce with you about holidays past. The holidays can be a special time for you as a caregiver to simply enjoy and remember the relationship you have with the person you care for – which may not always be easy to do when you care for them day in and day you.

The bottom line is that the holidays are what you make them. Decide to preserve your own needs, and you can enjoy the season as well.

Making the decision to move an elderly parent in with you is not one to jump into lightly. There are many things to consider including how your parent feels about the whole situation. You would be making drastic changes to your lifestyle as would your family. The family dynamic and roles will change causing tension and worry.

The decision to be your parent’s caregiver inside your own home is not always clear cut. First of all, you need to decide (with your parent) whether or not there are intermediate steps to take before making the big leap. Could you afford a caregiver to live with your parent? Can your parent even live alone safely? How comfortable do you feel with the role reversal? There are many things to consider first. Here are some questions that may crop up in the course of making that caregiving decision:

The Family Dynamic

First of all, many aging parents may feel they do not need any help and might resist moving in with you. How are you planning to talk with them about it? You need to be prepared with a list of reasons why they can no longer live alone. Also, your family will be changed as well if a parent moves in with you. How will your ailing parent integrate with your family? How will your spouse and kids feel and in what way will their lives change? You will need to talk with your family to even see if moving your parent in is the right thing for everyone involved.

You need your own personal time and space but how will you get them with a parent to take care of in your home? What would your limits be in caring for your ailing parent before a nursing becomes the better choice? How dependent will the parent be on you beyond the food and shelter and can you fulfill those responsibilities? Will any siblings feel resentful if you are the one taking care of your parent?

Modifying your Living Space

When the decision to move a parent in to your home comes into play, do you have any idea where to put them? Will one of your family members be displaced from their room and cause resentment? Can a spare room, home office or den be converted successfully for your parent? Would building an addition to the home be possible so no one loses their personal space? How about home modifications for any assistive devices? Would you have to build a wheelchair ramp, install special door knobs or railings?

Consider the “baggage” your parent will be bringing with them. Can you handle their yapping lap dog or precious kitty? Could you handle questionable personal behaviors such as smoking or drinking? What about having friends over? Can you handle your parent’s many friends coming over to visit?

Time and Money

Time and money are other aspects to consider when your parent moves in so you can care for them. How do you handle your finances as well as theirs? Should they offer to pay some rent or contribute to groceries? What should be the division of expenses? How will other family members such as your siblings feel about the financial aspect? Will you have to change jobs, reduce your work hours or quit all together to serve as caregiver to your parent?

If you do have to work, how will your parent care for themselves during the day? Will you hire a companion? Do you have any inkling on how you plan to juggle your needs, that of your spouse and kids in addition to your parent? How will the division of labor be spread out?

Other Considerations

Some parental caregiving may require with personal issues. Could you handle spoon feeding your parent? What about bathing them or changing their diaper should they have incontinence? Do you know what to expect in regards to your parent’s health and what to do in an emergency? Would you be able to take care of yourself so that you do not burn out serving as caregiver? If you need time to yourself, are you willing to hire a nurse or someone for respite care?

You have got to look before you leap into any situation regarding proving parental caregiving in your own home. There is not just one party (your parent) to think of but many, so delving into all of those questions above will help you make your decision.

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No one ever knows how hard acting as a caregiver is until they have actually had to do it themselves. Once you become a caregiver, your life is no longer your own. It is certainly very much like having a child, but it also brings with it the extra stress. You are often watching a loved one deteriorate physically and mentally before your eyes. The toll it takes on you is physical as well as emotional, and most caregivers find that they carry the entire burden of the caregiving themselves. To provide good care for your loved, however, you need to be good to yourself and try to make the caring process as stress-free as possible. These tips and helpful hints will guide you in making the caring process go as smoothly as it can, do you can look after yourself and your patient.

There are two main sets of tips for caregivers – those that make the actual caring easier and those that help caregivers get a little bit of relaxation and a much needed break. In terms of making the caring process easier, think about the things that you do for your patient that you might be able to empower them to do for themselves. If the patient needs help finding their personal items and then has no idea where to put them away, you can consider labeling drawers and cabinets with little notes that tell where everything is. Your patient will relish the chance to be independent enough to not have to ask for your help, and the note may also encourage them to put things away easily so you don’t have to go behind them and clean up. If your patient is bedridden, keep a selection of things they may need close to them, including books, TV remote, tissues, and more. That way they have the ability to get some of what they need and want without your help.

If you frequently take your patient out in the car with you, make sure you care is stocked with everything you may need. Incontinence is a frequent problem with patients who need care, so make sure all of the materials you need to deal with an accident are in your car, so you can deal with the problem swiftly and with as little discomfort to the patient as possible. Likewise, keep important phone numbers and backups of any medications in your car just in case.

Caring for yourself is as important as caring for your patient – if you’re not operating at 100%, you won’t be giving them 100% care. But carving out the time you need to relax and recharge when you’re the primary caregiver can be next to impossible. To make sure you get some time, first, look for the little bits of time you can steal to yourself daily. If your patient is napping, instead of running around doing the cleaning, take some time to read a book or watch a favorite TV show. After your patient goes to bed at night, develop a relaxing routine like taking a bath or unwinding with some of your favorite music.

When you need a longer break, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If there are no family members or friends around to step in and help you, then investigate adult day care services or home health care services. You need to get away for your own emotional and physical wellbeing, so don’t be afraid to ask for the help you need. If you don’t know where to start, check out your local caregivers’ support group for advice on the resources that are available in your area.

Caregiving is extremely expensive for the caregiver – that cannot be denied. Usually, the primary caregiver also has to shoulder the burden for expenses like doctor visits, prescription costs, medical equipment, home help, adult day care, and any other need the patient has. There is also the matter that most caregivers see their income decrease as their loved ones become more and more dependant.

They may not be able to work anymore, or they may have to reduce their work hours to part time. The financial burden of caretaking is enormous, but there are other costs associated with acting as a caregiver that have to be counted as well. These costs aren’t as easy to show on a bottom line, but they are every bit as important as the financial costs – if not more so. Before you become a caregiver, or if you know someone who provides care, consider these additional burdens.

One of the biggest costs of caregiving can be the health of the caregiver. While they are busy looking after the health of their loved one, their own health may be deteriorating. Caretaking is extremely stressful and extremely time consuming, all of which can take an enormous toll on the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the caretaker. As a caretaker, you may not have the time to exercise and eat properly, which of course is a burden on your physical health. But the stress itself of looking after a loved one and watching them deteriorate, while experiencing the isolation associated with being a primary caregiver can be very damaging. It is not uncommon to experience headaches, stomach problems, sleep trouble, weight changes, extreme fatigue and more. You may become depressed, feel withdrawn, feel angry, and feel alone. You may also experience forgetfulness or confusion yourself from the stress, which can be particularly troublesome when you are caring for someone with dementia.

Another cost to you as a caregiver may be personal. Acting as a primary caregiver is extremely time consuming. You will likely end up missing a lot of time with family and friends and may find it impossible to have a social life. Most caregivers have to withdraw from their careers, and if your career was very important to you, giving this up can be an enormous blow. Your world will grow smaller as a caregiver, which of course can have a tremendous impact on your overall well being.

How can you avoid these costs? Well, the honest answer is that it may be impossible to avoid them entirely. By nature, caregiving is stressful and a huge responsibility. Watching a loved one suffer is never easy, and putting your life on hold will bring on a host of emotions. But there are things you can do to mitigate your costs.

First and foremost, ask for help when you need it! Most caregivers think asking for help means they have failed. It really means just the opposite. You have to recognize that protecting your own health is something important that you do for the person you care for – if you can’t take care of them, who will? Share the burden. Ask family and friends to stop in. If they can’t, then seek out local support groups, adult day cares, and home health care services. Get a break when you need one.

Also, give yourself a break. The laundry can wait for one night. You can order a pizza instead of cooking a meal. Prioritize what you need to do, and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Caregiving costs financially and in other ways. You have to take charge of the costs so you can afford to pay the bill.

Being the primary caregiver for an aging adult can be a very stressful experience; luckily, there are lots of ways to reduce this stress and to bring your life back under control if the stress has already become a bit of a problem in your life.  Some of the best ways to cope with the stress include options for taking care of your own physical and mental health, while other options concern the care of the person for whom you are a caregiver.

The most important thing that most caregivers for aging adults sometimes forget is that a caregiver has their own emotions and life to deal with even while they are such a strong source of support for a sick loved one.  This feeling of wanting to be able to do absolutely everything can lead to very detrimental results.  Instead of trying to take care of everyone and everything 24 hours a day, remember that you have to take care of yourself in order to be useful as a caregiver for your loved one.  The best ways to ensure that you are taking good care of yourself are to keep your life in balance and to keep sleeping, exercising and eating well enough to be full of energy and in good spirits.

If your mind is too occupied with the impending loss of a terminally ill loved one, or you are feeling angry or guilty, sad or in doubt, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor.  If your symptoms include loss of sleep and being worried, you should contact your doctor right away.  Of course, it’s normal to worry about a loved one who is sick. If thoughts of how you will support yourself after your loved one is gone have you awake at night, you should tackle the worry straight on instead of letting it get the better of you.

Your doctor can suggest healthcare providers according to your needs.  If stress has resulted in back pain, it might be time for a trip to the physical therapist; likewise, if you’re so worried that your stomach is unable to handle any solid foods, a trip to a therapist may well be the best idea.  In addition to healthcare providers, there is also the valuable option of joining support groups for caregivers of the elderly.  Such groups exist both for in-person meetings as well as there being online support groups.

Joining a support group can offer valuable support from knowing that there are lots of other people out there in your community or out in the whole world who are dealing with similar issues to what you are dealing with in your own life.  It’s not just with the logistics of being a caregiver that having some support is beneficial; it is also extremely positive to share the burden of thoughts and emotions with other caregivers who are going through the same emotions as you are.

Take time for yourself: watch your favorite television shows or rent comedy movies to lighten your spirits.  Don’t let yourself become isolated; especially if the person for whom you are caring is not fully present mentally; make sure to invite others into the home or to leave the house periodically so that you can interact with other people on a regular basis.  There are lots of people in the world who can help you through the caregiving process; some of these people, like friends, family and church members or coworkers are already in your life.  There are a lot of other people out there though who are willing and able to help you if you take the time to seek them out.  Don’t be scared to ask for help…everyone needs some help, especially when it comes to something as physically and emotionally demanding as being a full-time caregiver.

Emergencies can crop up regarding a loved one, particularly if there is a sudden illness or health issue that renders that loved one incapable of caring for themselves. While you may not need to quit your job to set up caregiving for your loved one, you will likely need some time off to initially care for your loved one, assess the situation and make plans accordingly. You might feel concerned about your job and whether you cannot take off for any length of time.

The good news is that the United States government passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) back in 1993 which provide employees who find themselves in a caregiving role the assistance they need to juggle not only their livelihood but also the care of their loved ones. The FMLA basically ensures that you cannot lose your job based on the need to care for a loved one. Of course, this act does not work to save your job forever but allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of leave unpaid from the hob without fear of repercussions.

Please note that the FMLA does not guarantee any pay during these 12 weeks and it is between you and the employer about whether or not you receive any pay. It may be based on the amount of sick leave, vacation time and/or personal time off (PTO) hours you may have accrued. If you have any of these built up, it could end up providing you with some income during your time off. Again, the payment arrangement is solely between you and your employers as the FMLA only guarantees that you cannot lose your job due to taking off to take care of a loved one.

With all good deeds like the FMLA, there is a down side to it as well. It does not protect all employees in the country. Therefore, not everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of it. Employers who are bound by the FMLA must be an entity affecting or conducting business or commerce. They must have at least 50 employees working at any given time during the course of a normal business week and also during the previous 20 plus calendared working business weeks. Subsidiaries or entities that are smaller than 50 employees but are affiliated or part of a larger entity also fall under the auspices of the FMLA.

There are some exceptions to entities with fewer than 50 employees and they include any public, local, state or government office and public as well as private secondary and elementary schools. If you do not fall within any of these scenarios, you may not be covered to take off from work with a guarantee to return to a job. Small business owners under 50 employees are not bound by the FMLA so you might have to negotiate with them in order to receive time off for caregiving.

Other things of note to consider with the FMLA is how an employer determines a 12-month period since the act states you can request up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during one 12-month time. An employer can simply follow a 12 month calendar year which is the simplest or even follow their company’s fiscal 12 month year or even a 12 month period starting on your anniversary date. In addition, the 12-month period could be on the first day of when your FMLA leave period starts or even based on a rolling 12 month time frame that is gauged by counting backward from the date you use the leave for FMLA.

As you can see, there are quite a few things to check so do not always assume you fall within the guidelines. While you may not be able to put off your caregiving duties, at least by knowing your eligibility, you can negotiate with your employer about the necessary time off you need to care for your loved one.