Articles & News About Jobs & Employment

Study of Corporate-Sponsored Eldercare Finds GCM Programs Improve Presenteeism of Working Caregivers

Shelton, CT (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- LifeCare®, Inc., provider of comprehensive specialty care services and a longtime leader in the work/life industry (http://www.lifecare.com), has issued the findings of an 18-month study of the impact of workplace eldercare programs entitled, "Corporate Eldercare Programs: Their Impact, Effectiveness and the Implications for Employers." (http://www.lifecare.com/miscellaneous/presenteeism_0208.html) Among the study's key findings is that the presenteeism levels of working caregivers improved over time when they used a geriatric care management (GCM) program. Presenteeism is defined in this study as being focused and on-task while at work.

The study examined the "presenteeism" levels of employees at a large healthcare company who care for aging loved ones, the extent to which they needed to make changes to their normal work schedules, their perceived levels of caregiving burden, their self-reported health, and their attitudes toward the support their employers provided. Employees who participated in the study fell into three basic categories: (1) users of a resource and referral program, (2) users of a geriatric care management program; and (3) employees who used no programs for assistance. The study was designed and conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Productive Aging, Towson University, program faculty and staff, and it was funded by LifeCare.

Complete results of the study are available on LifeCare's web site, www.lifecare.com, and will be shared in greater depth with attendees of the "Aging In America" conference (hosted by the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging), which takes place in Washington, DC, March 26 through 30. LifeCare's session will be held on Friday, March 28. Details about the conference are available at www.agingconference.org.

Key findings of the study, especially for the nation's employers, include:

- Presenteeism improved over time for users of geriatric care management (GCM) programs.

- Users of GCM programs also were less likely to report negative caregiving impacts on their work performance than resource and referral users and individuals who do not use support programs at all.

- Regarding their self-reported health, GCM users are more likely than the other two groups to report that their health is "excellent," and fewer GCM users report experiencing a change in their health during caregiving.

- All three groups of employee caregivers commonly feel that the use of caregiving programs is something to delay until a crisis arises.

"As this study shows, workplace eldercare programs (http://www.lifecare.com/news/fastfacts/caregiving_0108.html) can have a significant impact on caregivers' ability to effectively manage their caregiving and job-related responsibilities," said LifeCare CEO, Peter G. Burki. "And GCM users in particular, who typically receive a more intensive level of professional assistance, seem to have the best results by far."

However, Burki noted, there's still work to be done when it comes to educating working caregivers (http://www.lifecare.com/news/archives/poll_1207.html) about the proper use of these programs. "Too many people wait until after a crisis arises or until their situation becomes unmanageable to use the employer-sponsored support programs," he said. "Employees need to understand that these programs are meant to be used before a crisis arises. That's the best way to maximize the benefits of these programs for everyone involved, including the care recipient. And with the need for eldercare support programs (http://www.lifecare.com/news/fastfacts/caregiving_0108.html) growing exponentially, this is truly a hot-button issue for employers everywhere."

The study also found that 70 percent of caregiving employees report taking time off from work to attend to caregiving responsibilities. While it would be impossible for employers to eliminate the need for caregiving employees to take some time off from work on occasion, Burki says that better communication between caregivers and their supervisors would help to minimize impacts and allow for better advance planning. Therefore, supervisors should foster a system of support that does two essential things: 1) minimize the barriers to honest discussion about caregiving issues that might affect the job, and 2) recognize the importance of workers who will be called upon to take on additional work during caregivers' absences.

About LifeCare®, Inc. (http://www.lifecare.com)

LifeCare offers cost-saving benefits that help clients reduce their most pervasive absenteeism and productivity drains, including child and elder care, caregiving support, health and wellness issues, and more. For more than two decades, LifeCare has led the work/life industry in the creation of high-quality, results-oriented programs designed to improve our clients' bottom line. LifeCare serves 1,500 client companies with 4.5 million individuals within corporations, health plans, government agencies and unions. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com.

Notes to Editors

Peter G. Burki is available for interview.

Media contact: Michael Civiello; 203-291-4170

This press release was distributed through eMediaWire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

###

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

Work At Home Job Versus Work At Home Business
I often hear people complain about how they shouldnt have to pay for a business opportunity because "you wouldnt have to pay to get a job outside the home." It irritates me when I read that. Not because I think you should have to pay for a job - even a work at home position - its because they think that their should be no investment to start up a work at home business.

2 Major Reasons to Get a Computer Work at Home Job
It surprises me how many people are still skeptical about putting their computer to work Thousands of people earn work at home incomes via the internet

Work at Home Jobs Vs Self Employment
Work at Home Jobs vs Owning a Home Based BusinessNot everyone is interested in owning their own home business, but a lot of people are interested in dropping out of the rat race a little bit. More and more jobs are available where you can work from home.

At Home Work - Find Your Next Work At Home Job
At home work is easy to find these days thanks to the internet Work from home jobs are a form of self employment, which is hitting today's society in huge numbers

Work at Home Data Entry Jobs, Work at Home, Data Entry Jobs
37 Work at Home Data Entry Jobs - The New Age Career Move

Home Computer Work - 3 Ideas For Home Computer Work Jobs
Surely, many people out there have told you about the wonders of working from home and being your own boss Well, not only are you able to save on transportation costs and have more time to spend with your family, you are also able to do whatever you like, whenever you feel like it

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs - 4 Important Things to Consider Before Starting This Career Path
When you are selecting legitimate work from home jobs career, money is important, but there are some other factors that should be considered before making the final decision Before beginning even legitimate work from home jobs career, you should think about some of the factors that will help to make your venture succeed or fail

On Campus Interviews - A Chance For Your "First Job" As Well As Career Employment
During the course of training or secondary educations some organizations - companies, firms as well as major non-profit organizations of great status and reputation will offer campus interviews to graduating students in such fields as engineering, electronics, business management, law accounting, computer information systems and marketing

4 Legit Work From Home Jobs That Work
Everybody is turning to the internet to work from home and hopefully leave their day job. This means that finding legit work from jobs has become more popular than ever and you can understand why when hundreds of people weekly are quitting their day job and are working out of the comfort of their home.

7 Benefits of Owning a Computer Work at Home Job
Computer work at home jobs are growing in numbers Some cost very little to start-up and others are completely free to start

Work From Home Jobs For Moms - Jobs You Can Do at Home
A Legitimate Work from home job is a desire that many moms have, and being able to generate a great income while working from home is very possible I created this work from home jobs for moms lens to give you information about legitimate work from home jobs for moms, and for anyone looking to make part time to full time income

Work at Home Agent - Job Ideas For a Work at Home Agent
Are you interested in jobs that require you to spend hours on the phone talking to customers If you like personal relations work and have good interpersonal skills, then do consider the opportunity of being a work at home agent

Work From Home - How To Prepare For A Work From Home Job
Surely, you must have already heard about the perks of working from home Not only do you get the opportunity of being with your loved ones, but also the chance of earning good money doing what you like

Legitimate Work at Home Jobs Career - 4 Amazing Tips to Increase Efficiency
When you have picked one of the many legitimate work at home jobs career and are ready to settle down and make some money, it helps to make your home based business as efficient as possible One of the most important benefits resulting from obtaining legitimate work at home jobs career is the ability to improve income levels through increased efficiency in performing the tasks associated with the jobs