When Jennifer's* father had his first stroke, everything changed in an instant. One day, she was a university employee with a normal routine. The next day, she was coordinating with doctors, researching rehabilitation facilities, and figuring out how to balance work with hospital visits and caregiving responsibilities. "I kept thinking this was temporary," she said. "But six months later, I realized this was my new normal."

Caregiving doesn't stay the same. It shifts, sometimes gradually, sometimes overnight. Understanding these transitions can help you know when to reach out for support and which University of Arizona benefits can help you through each phase.

The Journey Through Caregiving

Researchers have identified different phases that most caregivers experience. You might move through these stages once, or you might cycle through them multiple times as you care for different family members throughout your life.

The Awareness Phase often feels uncertain. You notice small changes, like a parent having trouble with bills, or a spouse becoming forgetful. You might wonder, "Am I overreacting?" Many people don't recognize themselves as caregivers during this phase. They're "just checking in" or "helping out for now."

Unfolding Responsibility is when you're actively caring for someone but still figuring things out. Care needs shift unexpectedly. This phase brings significant stress as you balance caregiving with work and other responsibilities. This is also when caregivers need support most, yet they're least likely to ask for help.

Increasing Care Demands occur when simple tasks become complex care tasks. What started as driving to appointments becomes managing medications, helping with bathing, and providing constant supervision. Caregivers providing over 40 hours of care weekly experience the most significant declines in their own physical and mental health.

End-of-Life Care brings intense challenges alongside grief. "I wanted to be present for my husband," one faculty member shared, "but I also needed to work and support my family. I felt like I was failing at everything."

Bereavement and Rebuilding come after loss. The role that filled so much of your time suddenly ends. Some feel relief mixed with guilt. Others immediately begin caring for another family member.

Jennifer's Journey: Discovering Support Through Each Phase

Awareness Phase: Finding a Starting Point

When Jennifer first noticed her father struggling, she felt overwhelmed. A colleague mentioned HR Life & Work Connections. Jennifer scheduled an appointment with a dependent care specialist.

"I thought I was just getting a list of nursing homes," she recalled. "Instead, we talked about what my father actually needed, what I could realistically manage, and what support existed. For the first time, I had a starting point instead of just panicking."

HR Life & Work Connections provides specialized consultation for caregivers at any stage, whether you're supporting aging parents or facing "sandwich generation" challenges, caring for children, or caring for older family members.

Unfolding Responsibility: Setting Up Support Systems

After her father's stroke, Jennifer's responsibilities expanded quickly. Her supervisor suggested she investigate Family Medical Leave. "I had no idea it could work for my situation," Jennifer said.

Family Medical Leave (FML) provides up to 12 weeks of protected leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. What Jennifer found most helpful was intermittent FML, taking leave in smaller amounts. "I could take a few hours for appointments or a full day when Dad had procedures," she explained. "My job was protected, and I stopped feeling like I was constantly asking for special treatment."

Jennifer also learned about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Healthcare FSAs cover up to $3,300 yearly for your healthcare expenses. Dependent Care FSAs cover up to $7,500 yearly per household for elder care expenses if your dependent lives with you at least 8 hours daily. "These pre-tax dollars made a real difference," Jennifer said.

Increasing Care Demands: Protecting Your Own Health

Six months into caregiving, Jennifer's father moved in with her. "I kept putting off my own doctor appointments," she said. "Until my blood pressure spiked and I realized I couldn't help anyone if I fell apart."

Jennifer learned about the resources available through ComPsych, which provides:

• 12 free, confidential counseling sessions available 24/7
• Support for everyone in your household
• Unlimited legal consultations for wills, powers of attorney, guardianship, and healthcare directives
• Financial counseling and resources

"The counseling sessions gave me a place to process everything," Jennifer shared. "And when I needed to set up power of attorney, the legal consultation walked me through it."

End-of-Life Care and Beyond

When Jennifer's father entered hospice care, she took full Family Medical Leave. "Those last six weeks, I could be fully present," she said. "That time was sacred."

After her father's death, Jennifer continued counseling sessions and gradually rebuilt her routine. Human Resources helped her review her benefits and plan. "They reminded me to update my beneficiary designations," Jennifer noted. "After going through this, I understood why that mattered."

The Difference Support Makes

"I spent two years trying to handle everything alone," Jennifer reflected. "I thought asking for help meant I was failing. But working with HR Life & Work Connections, I discovered what was available and got directions on the next steps. Learning about FML, setting up FSAs, and using Employee Assistance Counseling, each piece made caregiving more balanced. I still had hard days, but I wasn't drowning anymore. That made all the difference."

Your caregiving experience is unique and incredibly valuable, but you don't have to navigate it alone. The benefits are real, the support is there, and the next step is to reach out.

Ready to start? Contact HR Life & Work Connections at 520-621-2493 or email [email protected].

Next in this series: an exploration of the different types of caregiving and a dive deeper into how specific HR benefits support each situation.

*Although the names are fictitious, the experiences reflect common caregiver scenarios.