Working Daughter: A Guide to Caring for Your Aging Parents While Making a Living

Working Daughter is a book that explores the challenges of caring for aging parents and the impact on women's careers. It provides advice on how to balance career and family responsibilities and highlights the benefits of caregiving.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Working Daughter is a groundbreaking book that explores the challenges faced by unpaid family caregivers who are caring for their aging parents, raising their children, maintaining relationships, and pursuing their careers. The author, who was enjoying a successful career in marketing and raising two children, faced a sudden and devastating diagnosis of terminal illnesses for both of her parents on the same day. This book provides a firsthand account of the author's experiences and the choices she made, offering valuable insights and practical advice for anyone who is caring for an aging parent or who may face similar challenges in the future.

One of the key themes of Working Daughter is the impact of a rapidly aging society on family caregivers and their employers. With 10,000 people turning 65 every day, the demand for caregivers is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, while the supply of caregivers is predicted to be insufficient. This has significant implications for both family caregivers and their employers, as it can lead to increased stress, burnout, and financial difficulties.

The book provides a blueprint for women and a call to action for business leaders and policy makers. It offers practical advice on how to balance career and parents, as well as how to manage the challenges of caregiving. The author emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and seeking support from others. She also provides tips on how to communicate effectively with healthcare providers and other professionals involved in caregiving.

One of the most valuable aspects of Working Daughter is the author's personal story. She shares her experiences of caring for her parents, including the emotional and physical challenges that she faced. She also provides insights into the decisions that she made, such as quitting her job to care for her parents full-time and moving her family to a new city. These decisions were not easy, but they were necessary for her to provide the best care for her parents.

The book also highlights the underreported but well-documented upside to caring for an aging parent. Caregiving can provide a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and connection to others. It can also help to reduce the cost of healthcare by providing care in the home rather than in a nursing home. However, many caregivers face financial difficulties and social isolation, which can make it difficult to continue caring for their parents.

Working Daughter provides a range of strategies for addressing these challenges. For example, the author suggests that employers should provide flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting and flexible hours, to allow caregivers to balance their work and caregiving responsibilities. She also suggests that caregivers should seek out support from other family members, friends, and community organizations.

In addition to providing practical advice, Working Daughter also raises important questions about the role of women in the workplace. The author argues that women should be valued for their contributions to the workplace and should be given the opportunity to advance their careers. However, many women face barriers to career advancement, such as discrimination and lack of support.

The book also provides a call to action for business leaders and policy makers. It suggests that businesses should invest in caregiver support programs, such as paid leave and flexible work arrangements, to help caregivers balance their work and caregiving responsibilities. It also suggests that businesses should provide training and education to caregivers to help them develop the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality care.

Working Daughter is a must-read for anyone who is caring for an aging parent or who may face similar challenges in the future. It provides a firsthand account of the challenges faced by unpaid family caregivers and offers practical advice on how to balance career and parents, manage the challenges of caregiving, and achieve the caregivers gain. By raising awareness about the impact of a rapidly aging society on family caregivers and their employers, Working Daughter can help to create a more supportive and inclusive workplace for all.

In conclusion, Working Daughter is a groundbreaking book that explores the challenges faced by unpaid family caregivers who are caring for their aging parents, raising their children, maintaining relationships, and pursuing their careers. The author's personal story provides valuable insights and practical advice for anyone who is caring for an aging parent or who may face similar challenges in the future. By raising awareness about the impact of a rapidly aging society on family caregivers and their employers, Working Daughter can help to create a more supportive and inclusive workplace for all.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 228 x 151 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538173947