Working & Caring
The Caregiver Experience: A Snapshot of the Caregiver Journey
Employers from more than 75 corporations, academic institutions, non-profits and government joined together in September 2014 to launch a new tool to help employers support caregivers while gaining a competitive advantage in the race to attract and retain the best talent. Led by ReACT (Respect A Caregiver’s Time), the coalition of employers hosted a discussion about the leadership role of companies as caregiving needs for loved ones with age-related, chronic conditions rises sharply over the next few decades.
“The Caregiver Experience: A Snapshot of the Caregiver’s Journey” is a graphic depiction of a caregiver’s day. It combines insights, experience and market research from ReACT’s member organizations and visually shows the multitude of tasks, responsibilities, emotions and skills required for the dual role of caregiver and employee. The graphic is intended to engage employers about the needs of employee caregivers and stimulate new approaches to better support caregivers.
It is estimated that of the 44 million unpaid elder caregivers in the U.S., 75 percent are employed. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, nearly 70 percent of working caregivers must make workplace accommodations including modifying hours, taking a leave of absence, choosing early retirement or turning down a promotion.
About ReACT
ReACT represents nearly 1 million employees through its membership of more than 40 companies and non-profit organizations. ReACT seeks to create a supportive business environment where the challenges faced by caregivers juggling the demands of both work and caregiving for an adult with a chronic age-related disease are understood and recognized by employers so that employees can better meet their personal and professional responsibilities. Please visit www.respectcaregivers.org for more information.
#CultureOfCare Chats
In August and September of 2014, we partnered with experts from the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, the ReACT Coalition, and the Social Security Administration to lead a 30-day conversation on building a culture of care. Employers, family caregivers, and aging/caregiving professionals joined in our discussion on Twitter and Google+ to learn how to build a caregiver-friendly work environment.
STORIFY CHAT RECAPS
Better Workplaces for Family Caregivers
Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 2pm ET
Hosted by: National Alliance for Caregiving
The Employer Perspective: Promoting a #CultureOfCare
Wednesday, Aug. 20th at 2pm ET
Hosted by: ReACT Coalition
Team Care: Making A Difference for Older Adults & Family Caregivers
Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 2pm ET
Hosted by: Eldercare Workforce Alliance
Social Security: What Every Caregiver Should Know
Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 2pm ET
Hosted by: Social Security Administration
Continue the conversation at twitter.com/#cultureofcare
Better Work, Better Care: How Employers Can Support Family Caregiving, February 2014
This webinar describes how to build caregiver-friendly workplace policies in your state. Bringing together caregiving experts and employers from the national ReACT Coalition, the webinar discussed how caregiving advocates can work with employers to raise awareness of the needs facing working family caregivers.
ReACT Employer Toolkit
http://www.aarp.org/react/
The National ReACT (“Respect A Caregiver’s Time”) coalition, in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving and others, has created an online resource to support a business environment where the challenges faced by caregivers, juggling the demands of work and caregiving for an adult with a chronic age-related disease, are understood and recognized by employers. The tools available can be used by employers or employees who want to foster a caregiving-friendly workplace.