INTEGRATING CARE MANAGEMENT IN CORPORATIONS

According to Jennifer Elizabeth Voorlas, ( Inside GCM, Spring, 08 edit.), the issue of Elder Care has now taken the lead over Child Care, in the workplace’s challenge of maintaining job attendance and productivity.

Many are familiar with the term, “Sandwich Generation”, which describes the dynamic of being “squeezed” at both ends of the spectrum in taking responsibilities for one’s own family needs while taking on those of their aging parents.   In the workplace, this translates into reduced productivity and creativity.  High levels of depression, anxiety, absenteeism, and reduced concentration are all symptoms of a stressed-out caregiver.  In many cases this stress leads to alcoholism and or drug abuse, impairing judgment.

The Sloan Work and Family Research Network (2007) tell us:  “Nearly 60% of those caring for an adult over the 50 are working; the majority of those fulltime” (MetLife Mature Market Institute, & National Alliance for Care giving, 2006).  According to Met Life Care giving Costs Study:  the average caregiver costs an employer $2110 per year. For those caregivers providing the most intense levels of care, the cost for all caregivers is $ 33.6 billion.

With these statistics, the value of integrating care management into the corporate setting is essential.  According to the Investor’s Business Daily (2007) the trend for employer assistance in this area is changing: the Natl. Study of Employers indicate that 79% of companies offer flexible work hours to allow staff to handle elder care issues, and 50% of larger companies offer elder care resources and referrals.

As geriatric care managers, our role is not limited to the individual and or family system.  It is important, in light of this trend, for care managers to offer their expertise with the hope that corporations will create budgets to contract with care managers for caregiver education, referrals/resources, and in-home assessments.

Our service is of extreme value to corporations.  If properly educated, employers who have elder care resources within arms length for their employees will have that corporate edge, and employees will benefit tremendously by getting assistance with the most important elder decisions of their lives.

 

Jennifer E. Voorlas M.S.G C.M.C

President of Geriatric Care Consultants

www.geriatriccareconsultants.com