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Some Recent Corporate Eldercare Results in the US

IFA Conference, Prague

May 2012

National Alliance for Caregiving

Nonprofit coalition of 40+ national organizations focused on family caregiving issues

Established in 1996 to support family caregivers and the professionals who work with them

NAC Activities: Conduct research and policy analysis;

Develop national programs;

Strengthen state and local coalitions;

Increase public awareness;

Work internationally

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Best Practices in Corporate Eldercare

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• 2012 study to update information on what employers are doing for caregiving employees and to identify some best practices in corporate eldercare programs.

• Trends: reliance on technology, innovative approaches to Paid Time Off,

subsidized back-up home care, and geriatric care management services. • Perceivable Benefits: reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, and better

retention rates. • Recommendations for Employers: understand the needs of your workforce,

identify corporate goals of the program, and ensure corporate culture is consistent with your approach.

The Metlife Study of Working Caregivers and

Employer Healthcare Costs

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• 2010 study focuses on how caregiving, employer health costs, and employer-sponsored wellness benefits intersect.

• Caregiving for an older relative is an important factor in the health, medical

care expense, and productivity of employees across all age groups, and therefore in the health costs for employers. There is an 8% differential in increased health care costs between

caregiving and non-caregiving employees (costing U.S. employers an estimated $13.4 billion a year).

• Eldercare benefits and wellness programs can provide needed support to

working caregivers. And directly reduce employee health care costs, with great benefit to the employer.

The Metlife Caregiving Cost Study:

Productivity Losses to U.S. Business

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• 2006 study on how caregiving can impact a company’s overall profitability. Caregiving costs U.S. employers between $17.1 billion and $33.6 billion in

lost productivity annually.

• Nearly 60% of those caring for an adult 50+ are working.

• Eldercare Calculator: help employers estimate their own productivity cost for working caregivers (www.eldercarecalculator.org).

Figure 17: Work Accommodations Due to Caregiving Q34. In your experience as both a worker and a caregiver,

did you ever...?

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70%

66%

12%

9%

6%

6%

3%

20%

Any of these

Go in late, leave early, take time off

Leave of absence

Reduce work hours or take less demanding job

Give up working entirely

Turn down a promotion

Lose any job benefits

Choose early retirement

Base: 2009 Caregivers who worked

while caregiving

(n=1,033)

Percentage Experiencing Each Impact

70%

66%

12%

9%

6%

6%

3%

20%

Any of these

Go in late, leave early, take time off

Leave of absence

Reduce work hours or take less demanding job

Give up working entirely

Turn down a promotion

Lose any job benefits

Choose early retirement

Base: 2009 Caregivers who worked

while caregiving

(n=1,033)

Percentage Experiencing Each Impact

69%*62%

65%*57%

18%17%

9%10%

7%6%

5%4%

4%5%

Caregivers of Recipient Age 18+

3%3%

2004(n=937)

2009(n=917)

69%*62%

65%*57%

18%17%

9%10%

7%6%

5%4%

4%5%

Caregivers of Recipient Age 18+

3%3%

2004(n=937)

2009(n=917)

e-Connected Family Caregiver

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• 2010 study on family caregivers’ receptivity to technology. • Screened online panelists to identify 1,000 technology-using family caregivers

Provided at least 5 hours per week of unpaid care. Had already used some sort of technology to help them with caregiving.

o Such as searching for caregiving information or support on the Internet or participating in an online forum or blog

• Evaluated 12 technologies – helpfulness and barriers to use.

Personal health record tracking Caregiving coordination system Medication support system

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For More Information:

Gail Gibson Hunt President & CEO

National Alliance for Caregiving 301-718-8444

gailhunt@caregiving.org

National data on family caregiving: www.caregiving.org