Nurse from Kokkola shares challenges of balancing work and family life while caring for special needs child and chronically ill mother

Elina Tuoretmaa, a nurse from Kokkola, has experienced the challenges of balancing work and family life while caring for a special needs child and assisting her chronically ill mother who lives 40 kilometers away. For three exhausting years, she managed her elderly parent’s affairs while also dealing with her child’s escalating issues, which intensified before they could be addressed at kindergarten and preschool. Often, she traveled with her special needs child after work to help her mother. Support from her spouse, who works shifts, was crucial, along with a cleaning circle created with her brother and aunts, which facilitated shopping tasks. However, Tuoretmaa noted that much of the administrative workload fell on her, alongside her responsibilities as a nurse concerning her mother’s health.

She reflected on the expectations placed upon her due to her profession, feeling that more information could have alleviated some of her burdens. Despite the difficulties, Tuoretmaa praised her workplace’s support during these challenging years, where she could openly discuss her situation with colleagues and supervisors and leave work early when necessary.

Concerns about aging parents have been echoed by parents in Seinäjoki during a recent school meeting. According to Kaija Göös, coordinator for elderly services in Seinäjoki, this was the first time parents raised such concerns. She believes that many are worried about their elderly parents’ well-being, especially when living far apart. Göös aims to provide information on where to seek advice and support.

With the pressures of modern family life, adults often feel overwhelmed, balancing their children’s activities with the need to care for aging parents. Tuoretmaa remarked on the absence of caregiver leave in employment law during her challenging years, suggesting such provisions could have made a significant difference in managing her responsibilities.