We as a society are aging.  For those boomers who are employed, I suggest that when you go to your place of business the next time, look around.  How many of your co-workers are dealing with a caregiving situation?  Have they discussed with anyone exactly what they are experiencing?  Does the employer know what they are dealing with? 

Whether they talk about or not, they are suffering from the silent epidemic that is taking its toll on both employers and employees, affecting all of them physically, emotionally and financially.   Emotional stress shows its face as indecision, apathy, anger and depression.  Physical stress shows itself as sleeplessness, fatigue, stomach disorders, anxiety and inappropriate laughing and crying.  How can an employer not notice?  Family caregivers account for 73% of early departures and late arrivals in the workplace and time off.  

Other ways family caregiving can affect work are long and frequent personal telephone calls, low morale, numerous mistakes and conflicts with co-workers.  On average, 40% of family caregivers take off an average of 17 unpaid days per year due to caregiving.

More than 60% of individuals who are working full or part time are caregivers.  They dedicate an average of 18 hours per week to provide care for older persons and even more than that when the person has more than one disability.  Caregiving is a very well kept secret.  People are fearful that their job will be in jeopardy if they discuss their situation openly. They are fearful of a demotion, of not being considered for a promotion and fearful of even losing the job.  According to a Met Life study, working caregivers lose an average of $659,139 during their career in terms of social security, pension and wages lost.

Caregiving is having a negative impact in the workplace and 40% of employers say they have no plan in place to assist caregivers.   Another Met Life study indicates that the average working caregiver costs a business $2,110 annually in productivity and that 42% of America’s work force provide some form of care.  For a business with 100 employees, of which 42 are caregivers, more than $88,000 is lost annually.  The caregiving cost to employers is estimated to be as high as $33.6 billion per year and will only increase as the population continues to age.  It’s time that both employers and employees become proactive in dealing with the many issues of caregiving.  Working together, possibly forming a support group so that employees can exchange their ideas and feelings in a safe and secure environment could be a good first step.

Dorothy McMahon, president of McMahon and Associates, is a Long-Term Care Insurance Consultant in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Reach her at (248) 844-9787 or LTCINSUSA@aol.com.

Announcement!
Innovative Employer Caregiving Programs Broadcast
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
1:00–2:00 P.M. (Eastern Time)

How to Register:
To register and find out more information on the broadcast (how/where it can be viewed and how to access the live Q & A), please go to www.blsmeetings.net/caregivers.

If you have any questions, please email us at caregivers@cms.hhs.gov.