a caregiver can be a RN that performs a job in a hospital, might be in a union, gets paid and has pauses, but also a person that does it for somebody in the family who needs caregiving, like an aging parent or a wife with MS.
I’ve heard so many stories of mostly women, complaining but mostly venting that they have a regular job AND then have to go home and must take care of an ungrateful elder, are not being paid, how taxing it is, while other siblings do nothing but offer platitudes, do not to help and have normal lives.
I can understand why people act so passively because taking care of an aging parent or a wife with MS is hard, not valued, back breaking non stop job, physically and mentally, unpaid and unrecognized by society but at the same time, expected. It’s even worse because adults without this kind of responsibility love to judge and call you ungrateful for not sacrificing your life for your ailing parents (they gave you life!!, that’s not christian!!). Most you’ll hear from people somehow aware of this situation is that you’re a hero or an angel, which is so insulting and out of touch.
I wouldn’t sacrifice my life for my parents, move in with them to be their maid 24/7 like these women.
But what if it was just another job, I was paid, had my pauses and I could call in sick and clock out? It looks better.
Where you live, is this possible? How much in wages did you lose? Any regrets?
Here (krautland) the person that needs to be taken care of is “rated” (the level of care needed) and then gets money according to it. I think it’s ranging from 200 - 2000 euro or so. Monthly. What this person then does with it is their own responsibility. Plus some monthly care-package and some household-help. And possibly a car-(if you need a wheelchair e.g.) or bath- or whatever -remodeling in your house. But I think it’s a onetime-thing.