Caring for an elderly relative, friend can disrupt work
Many adults with full-time jobs who care for an aging parent face significant work disruptions and lack employer support, a new study finds.
Work disruptions range from mild, such as adjusting work hours, to severe, which includes moving from full- to part-time jobs, taking a leave of absence or even early retirement.
The study included 642 workers at a public university who were unpaid caregivers for seniors – typically parents, spouses or friends.
Nearly three-quarters said caregiving disrupted their work, and more than half who provided care 10 or more hours weekly called the disruptions severe.
Roughly a quarter of workers said they don't get support from their employer.
“What's particularly troubling – and what's new in this study – is that employees who are experiencing work interruption are much more likely to say they have unmet need for workplace support than those who manage to keep working at the same pace,” said lead author Matthew Andersson, an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
“This tells us that employers may not be stepping up to connect informal caregivers with workplace supports they need,” he added in a news release. “That makes informal caregiving an even tougher role.”
About 1 in 4 employed U.S. adults provides informal care for a parent, in-law or other family member over age 65, according to the Census Bureau. That percentage is expected to rise as the population continues to age and many people live longer.
Source: HealthDay
