Editor's Note: This month we feature a guest article by Blanche Katz, RN, an Elder Care Educator who addresses adult audiences concerned with the issues of eldercare and the generational gap at home and in the workplace:

The "Top 100 Companies" for the working mother are determined by an annual survey conducted by Working Mother Magazine and announced each October (www.workingmother.com). This survey lends itself to tracking a trend or two, including identifying which companies provide elder care as a benefit. By examining this survey, one could hope that this special designation would reveal that the elder care benefit is held in as high regard as child care. Not so.

The audience for this magazine is the working mother, who is involved with child care. This same woman may already or will soon face elder care issues. This listing is important for women because they are still the primary caregivers for their elderly loved ones.

One can follow the trend of the past three annual surveys and lists for 2004-2006, as I have in my own way un-scientific, anecdotal and strictly observational. This satisfies my two curiosities about these "Top 100 Companies" which are: How many companies announce elder care as a benefit? Among these companies, what is the range of the elder care benefit?

The good news is that, over the past three years, there has been an increase of more than100% in the number of companies (from 10 in 2004 to over 20 in 2006) offering elder care benefits,. The bad news is that 75% of the companies on this list do not identify elder care as a distinct benefit.

From a qualitative point of view, the types of elder care benefits offered by companies ranges from as little as giving the Elder Care Locator telephone number (800) 677-1116 and website www.eldercare.gov in the company's newsletter, to very comprehensive support that includes providing the services of a Geriatric Care Manager, some financial assistance, access to legal advice, and /or even personal care for the elderly loved ones.

The best news of all in 2006 is that all 100 companies have flextime. This varies from being available at the company's discretion all the way to months off as requested by the employee.

I will continue to use this "Top 100 Companies" survey as an annual barometer of progress. This information helps complete the picture of the environment for the working mother as we all grow older.

Blanche Katz can be reached at Blanche@B lancheKatz.com