Imagine it’s Sunday night. Kim, a working mom, is trying to make sense of the week ahead.

Her mother needs a ride to her doctor’s appointment on Tuesday. School gets out early on Wednesday, but Kim has a meeting she can’t move. Her mother would usually help with pickup, but lately she’s needed more help herself.

After the kids go to bed, Kim opens her laptop. She needs to research support for her mother and find an alternative childcare arrangement. An hour later, she has several browser tabs open and more questions than answers.

Which services fit her mother’s needs?

Will an after-school program cover the hours she needs?

What will everything cost?

Kim is a hypothetical example of someone in the sandwich generation: adults supporting children and aging parents at the same time. The responsibilities can overlap in unexpected ways. When a parent who once provided help begins needing it, a family may have to rethink their plans.

For someone like Kim, having help finding information can make the next step more manageable. First Commerce Credit Union’s Elevate Direct offers wellness benefits that include Worklife Concierge services, a resource for information and referrals related to caregiving, childcare and other everyday needs.

Kim begins with finding support for her mother at home. She and her mother make a list of the tasks that have become difficult and talk about where help would be welcome. Being specific about their needs, location and budget gives them a clear starting point. Worklife Concierge can then connect Kim with eldercare resources that help her explore options and identify services to contact.

She and her mother still need to speak with providers, ask about availability and costs, and decide what feels appropriate. However, having the resources to work from can reduce the time Kim spends searching and help them focus their efforts.

The same approach can help with childcare. Kim needs coverage between school dismissal and the end of her workday, including occasional early-release days. Worklife Concierge can help her find information about childcare and after-school options. With this information, she can compare hours and fees, ask about transportation, and check whether openings are available.

For anyone facing a similar search, having key details can make the options easier to assess. A program may sound appealing but close before you can get there. An affordable option may require transportation you cannot provide. Writing down the schedule, location and budget you need to work within can help you focus your questions and avoid spending time on arrangements that don’t fit.

Kim’s own well-being also deserves attention. Virtual counseling available through Elevate Direct gives her an opportunity to talk with a licensed professional about the stress she is carrying and explore ways to cope. She can seek that support while the family is still working through its care decisions.

There will still be appointments to coordinate and difficult choices to make. For Kim, progress is having relevant providers to contact and a clear plan for the next steps. With less research to tackle alone, she can spend more of her time making decisions with her family and being present for the people she loves.

If caring for everyone has left you wondering where to start, explore how Elevate Direct’s wellness benefits could support you. Learn more at FirstCommerceCU.org/elevate-direct.c