Wednesday, November 30, 2022
“There are only four types of people in the world — those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers. Caregiving is universal.”
— Rosalynn Carter
November is National Family Caregivers Month. While Illinois is making great strides towards building better resources for caregivers, AgeGuide asks employers to recognize the caregivers in their workplace and provide much-needed supports.
On December 1, at 1:00 PM, AgeGuide is hosting a seminar for business owners, managers, and employers to provide practical tips on how to support employees who are caregiving. Click here to register to learn how the right set of simple, do-able supports can increase workforce attraction and retention. Ellen Birchander, Gerontology Department Graduate Program Director for the University of Massachusetts, Boston, will share how caring for people at-home and in the community avoids more costly long-term care placement, supports health and well-being, and reduces the strain on our economy.
Caregivers often struggle to balance caring for their loved one while also raising their own children and working. In fact, 64% of caregivers report maintaining a full-time job. Of these, 15 percent have taken a leave of absence, and 14 percent have had to reduce work hours or change jobs as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. Having to juggle competing caregiving pressures with the demands of a career means increased stress and ultimately impacts both employees and employers.
According to research from BlueCross Blue Shield, the direct economic impact of caregiving is estimated at nearly $44 billion through the loss of 656,000 jobs and an additional 791,000 caregivers suffering from absenteeism issues at work.
There are more than 43 million family caregivers in the United States who provide personal assistance to loved ones with disabilities and other care needs every day. Caregiving can be a labor of love, but it can also be stressful and exhausting. Family and friends are an invaluable source of support to older adults as they help with activities of daily living such as eating, cooking, bathing, and walking. Caregivers make up 21% of the adult population today, and by 2034, for the first time in U.S. history, there will be more older adults than children.
Caregiver Experiences
Balancing all of the different caregiver roles causes stress which impacts all areas of life from health to relationships. Ultimately, caregivers need workplace supports. With at-home care, there can be conflicting demands of financial pressures, balancing a job in and out of the home and emotional stresses; ultimately, it can result in physical impacts. According to an AARP statistic, caregivers spend on average $7,000 out of their own pockets to support their loved one, which is about 26% of the average income.
According to one caregiver, Jennifer, who cares for her mother who has dementia, “Communities aren’t set up with care options that work for full-time caregivers. It costs me a lot in terms of time off from work, time away from my children, modifications to my home to accommodate her, and the costs of paying for someone to care for my mom when I can’t be there. The emotional toll of being completely responsible for someone else is challenging. There is no time for yourself, your own relationships, or even sometimes, your kids.”
In relation to the overwhelming pressures caregivers face, Ellen Birchander stated, “All of the external life pressures build up and it’s like squeezing a balloon.” The pressures, external and internal, of caregiving will eventually pop. Because of the many roles caregivers play, they need support services to enhance their caregiving skills, remain healthy and persevere in their caregiving duties.
Resources
AgeGuide supports caregivers through Older Americans Act funding and services. One way we do that is through a personalized caregiver assessment. Anyone can take the assessment by clicking on the link: TCARE ® Assessment. After evaluating the current level of need for support, a local case manager will contact the caregiver to offer individualized resources based on the identified needs of the caregiver. These resources and support will help them on their caregiving journey.
