I was juggling a $99K job, a baby, and caring for my mom with Alzheimer's. Getting laid off was a relief.

This narrative is according to an discussion alongside Elizabeth Stephens, 45, an HR worker-turned-carer from Lancaster, Texas. It has been edited for dimension and clarity.

I asked to transfer from Houston to Dallas in my HR function at a foremost coverage business since I was extremely concerned concerning my mom, who lived there.

It was June 2024, but she'd been having issues alongside high anxiety and forgetfulness for about two years. She'd continually been extremely neat. Then she was the opposite.

Mom started to rotate into overwhelmed

Stacks of document started to heap up in her house, and she felt overwhelmed by alphabet from Medicare and concerning withdrawal stuff. She loved decorating for all new season, but her autumn decor stayed up for a year.

She was referred to a neuropsychologist and failed all the tests. Then, following an MRI and a PET scan, she was diagnosed in October 2024 alongside Alzheimer's sickness and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

I wasn't entirely surprised. It was the confirmation that made me cry in the clinic. I was glad I'd made the move to Dallas, particularly since I was pregnant.

At first, Mom stayed in her own house, about 25 minutes distant from mine. I had my son in January 2025, and afterward put him in $1,100-a-month day attention during I worked at my agency in downtown Dallas.

I worked out a regular anywhere my companion would go complete and inspect in on her in the morning. I'd halt by in the evening following picking up the baby. I made certain she ate dinner.

It was nice since she read books to her grandson, equal although he was motionless extremely much an infant.

Things got stressful

Then, one night in October final year, as I was getting prepared to leave, my mom followed me to the car, carrying a big bag. She announced she was either coming alongside us or wandering the streets all night. Of course, she moved into our house.

Things got physically and mentally stressful as I tried to juggle my $99,000 job alongside my family life. I would go between my mom and my son, trying to get them dressed and breakfasted before activity in the morning.

She would oppose getting out of bed for her day attention center, which disbursal $90 a day, during he would run all complete the place, refusing to put his apparel on.

After I'd dropped them off at their distinct locations, I'd run 45 minutes to activity in dense traffic and attain at the agency exhausted. It felt as if I'd run a marathon before I logged onto my computer.

Then, I did the reverse in the afternoons before making dinner. I took shortcuts akin purchasing all-in-one meal kits and prepared meals, but they were expensive.

I employed personal carers for Mom to choice up the slack. A companion and a related did it for affection and either refused fee or charged lone $10 an hour. Agency rates went as elevated as $35 an hour.

I felt relieved whenever I was laid off

Somehow, we survived six months until March 2026. Mom had fallen at residence and was in rehab whenever I got "the" call from work. As shortly as I saw the HR VP join, I thought, "Oh, this is a layoff conversation."

There had been a lot of voluntary first retirements and layoffs, and I knew I wouldn't necessarily be exempt. I was entitled to 24 weeks of severance and health coverage through subsidized COBRA.

I honestly felt relief. Something had to give. And, in this case, it was my career. Fortunately, I had done a fine job of preservation and environment up a 401(k) scheme alongside a decent percent match.

Mom's Social Security, withdrawal funds, and Medicare fair concerning covered her outgoings, specified as the two- or three-times-a-week daycare, and I have used my severance so far. We're additionally considering marketing or renting out Mom's house.

I have made safety modifications in the bathroom, including catch rails, a ablution bench, and a handheld shower. And I bought Mom a additional suitable bed.

Right now, my goal is to create certain she, my son, and I are all looked after. It's the logic I bring in assistance for babysitting and respite care. My doctrine has continually been that "you can pay for peace, or live in chaos."

I launched a podcast for carers

The scheme is for Mom, 73, to live at residence alongside me as lengthy as possible. When it's no longer feasible, in accordance alongside her wishes, I volition appearance for a location anywhere she can obtain the attention she needs.

Meanwhile, I'm figuring out my next steps in my operating life: item connected to eldercare and dementia care. I run a monthly recollection café for caregivers and their loved ones. I additionally launched an autonomous podcast to assistance us awareness seen and heard.

It's called "What Ordinary Looks Like." To me, the regular routine of caring looks a lot akin love.