Care For The Caregiver

According to the National Academy on an Aging Society (NAAS), care provided by family caregivers in 1997 had an economic value of $196 billion. By comparison, the value of nursing home and home health care delivered that year amounted to $115 billion. Clearly, family caregiving is emerging as a major issue on the work/life arena at the beginning of the 21st century, an age of unsurpassed technological advances and seemingly endless horizons.

In 1999, MetLife funded a study of family caregiving trends in the United States. Even the name of the research – "The MetLife Juggling Act Study" – had a lot to say about changes overcoming the way American society works and cares.

Over three-quarters of family caregivers are unpaid. And while the trend may indicate a renewed commitment to the strength of the family unit, it also indicates a tremendous challenge for caregivers themselves.

Nearly 25% of American households have at least one adult who has provided care for an elderly family member or friend. By 2010, projections place the number of employed caregivers at close to 15 million. There is growing awareness of the effects of the combined responsibilities on workers, and employers are devising ways to accommodate their needs and support them emotionally as they perform a juggling act.

Worker productivity is a major issue faced by employers. In the MetLife study, 25% of respondents felt their ability to work was affected. Almost three-quarters reported that caregiving had an impact on their own health. Stress, depression and migraine were commonly cited ailments. The productivity loss resulting from caregiver illness and lost time is estimated at between $11 and 29 billion annually.

While 60% of employees report seeking support at work, and in spite of the staggering price tag of productivity losses, only 23% of employers with 100 or more employees have programs in place to support employees.

Fortunately for family caregivers, support resources services are expanding. The internet is an excellent resource for information for specific diseases, funding and service organizations, and many find encouragement from support groups. Awareness is growing, too, of the number of people who will require care in the future, and issues of caregiving are gaining more attention as their widespread impact becomes better understood.

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