April 2017 - Higher Education Jobs - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium

Caring for an elderly loved one can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, but if you are unprepared and unsupported, the responsibility can be detrimental to your work-life balance. Currently 60% of the 44 million caregivers of older adults in the U.S. today are in paid employment and provide an average of 5 years of care.

Yet many feel marginalized, unable to express their concerns in the workplace. Caregivers are often afraid that co-workers and supervisors will not be able to empathize with their situations. Particularly when care demands increase, the unpredictability and the duration of the caregiver experience is accompanied by increased stress, distraction and anxiety over lost productivity.

Caregiving is Complex, Unique Journey

Like the aging process itself, caring for an elder is a complex, unique journey. Factors that influence the caregiver experience include the physical and emotional needs of the care recipient; his or her lifestyle preferences and financial resources; the availability of friends and family to help; the availability of community resources, such as senior centers, in-home care and nursing homes. Fortunately, there are many resources to provide you guidance along the way.

Resources to Help Guide You

To get started, assess your loved one’s situation, such as overall physical and mental health; medication use; daily living and grooming; mobility; home safety; social interaction; and finances, using checklists such as those found at www.aarp.org or www.caregiver.org.

Create an Action Plan

Then, create an action plan for care. Your plan might include meal delivery, transportation, home modifications, home health delivery, respite, adult day programs and alternative housing. Visit the Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov ) or regional Aging and Disability Resource Centers (www.adrc-tae.acl.gov) to find resources in your local area and combine them with help from family and friends. Use care calendars such as Lotsa Helping Hands (https://lotsahelpinghands.com/) to coordinate help. Moving to alternative housing takes considerable preparation, so plan ahead by reading A Guide for Making Housing Decisions for a discussion of the pros and cons of each option (available at www.eldercare.gov).

Signs of Caregiver Stress

Watch for your signs of stress. They include excessive worry; sleep deprivation; excessive use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs; poor diet; lack of exercise; postponement of personal self-care and medical examinations. If untreated, you may suffer from depression, exhaustion, chronic illnesses and increased absenteeism from work.

The Importance of Self Care

Routinely monitor your own health along the way (caregiver self-assessment tool available at www.caregiving.org) and actively seek out support for work-life balance. Utilize Family Medical Leave (FMLA), flexible work schedules, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), and caregiver groups to manage. Above all, ask for support. Understanding that you are not alone is one of the most profound ways to find balance during your unique journey. Check with your HR department, EAP, local senior citizens center (https://www.agingcare.com/local/area-agency-on-aging) and Hospice program (https://www.nhpco.org/find-hospice) for local caregiver support groups, and AARP (https://community.aarp.org/t5/Caregiving/bd-p/bf41) and National Family Caregiver Network (https://caregiveraction.org/forum) for online community groups.

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Robynn M. Pease, Ph.D. has over 20 years of related experience in the field of work-life and is the former director of the Greater Oregon Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (GO HERC). Prior to her current position as Faculty Ombudsman at Oregon State University (OSU), Robynn served as the Coordinator of Work-Life at OSU and the Director of Work-Life at the University of Kentucky. She holds a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Kentucky, with an emphasis in gerontology.

Leaving a job, even for a better and more exciting opportunity, can be a stressful process, especially if you’ve enjoyed working with your colleagues and have a strong relationship with your superiors. However, sometimes a great opportunity arises that has to be taken. Moving on to other opportunities can be a chance to demonstrate grace and gratitude. You can use your final days to affirm a positive relationship between you and your soon-to-be former employer and demonstrate dignity as you move on to bigger and better things. Here are a few tips to help you leave a great last impression.
Give Plenty of Notice

Employers tend to get frustrated when an employee decides to pursue a new opportunity without giving sufficient notice of his or her intent. No one, including your soon-to-be former coworkers, will appreciate having to drop their own tasks and scramble to fill the void you leave. When working in higher education, there are committee positions, class schedules, and tenure tracks to consider. That’s why providing ample notice of your intent to move on is a great way to leave your relationship with your employer and co-workers on a positive note—and ensure that you’ll receive a positive reference in the future.
Be Organized and Proactive

As a courtesy to your workplace, it’s best to try to tie up any loose ends you might leave behind as you move on from this job to other opportunities. Do your part to finish up your role in ongoing projects and courses. To make your replacement’s job easier, you can also leave a how-to list or two regarding your responsibilities or put together some materials you’ve drafted over your time there, such as class syllabi or curriculum information. Don’t forget to attend to the little details: cleaning up your desk area, gathering your things from the communal kitchen, and the like. Don’t wait until your last day to get everything in order.
Deliver Personal Thanks

While you may be overjoyed at the prospect of beginning your new job after leaving your current one, take a moment and connect with your superiors and colleagues. A great deal of time goes into filling tenure, lecturer, adjunct and other faculty positions. Because the academic world is small, it’s important to leave your position with positivity intact. Send handwritten notes to your co-workers and department head or dean, thanking them for the time you have shared and the opportunity to learn. These personal touches go a long way in keeping a strong professional network, securing a positive reference, and leaving your job on positive, graceful terms.

While it may seem overwhelming to leave your job for your next opportunity, it’s something that every person faces at one time or another. It’s important to begin your next chapter by making a positive close to your last one. As previously stated, the world of academia is small, and if you leave a position on bad terms, it can result in a negative reputation, affecting your future job prospects. Moreover, professionalism and consideration go a long way toward making sure you associate your work and career with positive feelings.

Leaving your job doesn’t have to be messy, stressful, or cringe-worthy. Instead, follow a few of the tips above and spend your last day at work smiling.

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Archives for April 2017

Finding Balance between Work and Elder Care

How to Leave Your Position with a Good Lasting Impression

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