Editor's note: This new study is significant because it is one of the first research findings that shows a link between usage of some corporate elder care programs and improved health and productivity of employed family caregivers. Congratulations to the study's sponsors on making this progress toward quantifying the impact of corporate eldercare offerings. For more information on this topic, see the June 2006 edition of this e-newsletter here.

Employed family caregivers who use employer- sponsored geriatric care management (GCM) services were more focused on work after using the program than they were before using it. And, GCM program users were less likely than other groups to self-report deterioration in their health over time, according to the findings of a February 2008 study.

The study, entitled Corporate Eldercare Programs: Their Impact, Effectiveness and the Implications for Employers, was designed and conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Productive Aging at Towson University and funded by LifeCare, Inc.

According to the report, "Among the study's most important findings - especially for the nation's employers - is the fact that "presenteeism" improved over time for users of the geriatric care management program." The term presenteeism is defined as the extent to which workers are "on task" or focused on their work tasks.

The study used the Stanford Presenteeism Scale to measure the impact of both GCM and eldercare resource and referral services provided by employers.

The study consisted of on-line surveys, telephonic interviews, and a six-month follow-up survey of interviewees, with three groups of caregiving employees: 1) non-users of the eldercare programs, 2) users of the resource and referral program, and 3) users of the GCM program.

Other key findings of the study:

• Participants spent an average of 13.5 hours per week tending to their caregiving tasks.
• 54% provide some type of financial assistance to their loved ones - an average of $300 per month.
• Workplace accommodations related to caregiving were common among respondents: 41% use time at work to discuss care with co-workers; 64% arrive late or leave work early; 70% take days off due to caregiving duties, and 81% routinely take time off during their workday to make arrangements for care or to check on loved ones.
• Many had misperceptions about the eldercare supports offered or the relevance of the programs to their situations. Many felt their situation was not "serious" enough to take advantage of the programs and felt that they needed to be in a crisis to justify using these supports.
• All caregiving employees surveyed (even those who did not use the programs) "felt grateful that their employer offered a program that recognized their caregiving situation - and many reported feeling "validated" by its availability," according to the report.

To view the full summary of findings, visit
http://www.lifecare.com/news/archives/study_ 0208.htm