The document discusses several studies on corporate eldercare programs and their impacts. It summarizes research finding that eldercare benefits can reduce health care costs and improve employee productivity and retention for employers. Additionally, caregiving responsibilities cost US businesses an estimated $17-33 billion annually in lost productivity. The document also outlines some best practices identified for corporate eldercare programs.
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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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3.
Best Practices in Corporate Eldercare
• 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.
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4.
The Metlife Study of Working Caregivers and
Employer Healthcare Costs
• 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.
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The Metlife Caregiving Cost Study:
Productivity Losses to U.S. Business
• 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).
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6. Figure 17: Work Accommodations Due to Caregiving
Q34. In your experience as both a worker and a caregiver,
did you ever...?
Base: 2009 Caregivers who worked
Caregivers of
while caregiving Recipient Age 18+
(n=1,033)
2004 2009
Percentage Experiencing Each Impact (n=937) (n=917)
Any of these 70% 62% 69%*
Go in late, leave early, take time off 66% 57% 65%*
Leave of absence 20% 17% 18%
Reduce work hours or take less demanding job 12% 10% 9%
Give up working entirely 9% 6% 7%
Turn down a promotion 6% 4% 5%
Lose any job benefits 6% 5% 4%
Choose early retirement 3% 3% 3%
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7.
e-Connected Family Caregiver
• 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
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