As a business owner, it is unlikely that you will want more on your plate, and yet, as your parents age, it is likely that they will need more and more care and support from you and the rest of your family members. Rather than abandoning them or sacrificing your business, it is possible to juggle both elements of your life, and this is a guide that can help you do just that.
Manage Their Expectations
The first step that you need to take as a business owner is to talk to your parents. At points, you will have to prioritize your company as your employees rely on you for a wage- and your future relies on the success of your business. To prevent them from calling you 24/7 whenever they need a minor problem solved, it is essential that you sit them down and discuss their expectations for how much care you can provide. This may help to prevent them from overburdening you and can give them the time to find alternative care options. However, you should always discuss this in a positive and gentle tone, ensuring that they understand the difficulty of your situation and that you will not leave them without the help they need. You might also give them your personal number rather than your work phone.
Look at Care Homes
You cannot do everything. Caring can be another full-time job on top of the one you already have. To try and take on both could lead to burnout and leave you feeling disheartened and guilty about both your business and your parents. You should look into care homes with them to achieve a great work/life balance and check that your parents get the care and attention they deserve. This can prevent them from finding themselves in dangerous and unsafe situations, and they will be looked after by professionals who know the signs and symptoms of when something is wrong. For instance, you might look for local care homes, and those further afield, including langfordpark.co.uk.
If your parents are not ready for a care home but still need more support than you can give them, you might consider looking into at-home care options. These can come in twice a day to help them to carry out essential tasks, such as washing and cooking, that you might not be able to help them with due to the usual 9-5 day.
Delegate Tasks
Just because you are the leader of your company, this does not mean that you have to do everything yourself. Instead, you must build a supportive team around you who are as committed to the success of your venture as you are. These individuals should be reliable enough that they are able to take on work when you are not there and run the business with any instructions that you have left them. This can help to take some of the stress off your shoulders, especially when it comes to short deadlines and other immediate concerns. This will enable you to be available whenever an emergency situation crops up,
